Kennedy Center Board Votes to Add Trump's Name Despite Court Order
The Kennedy Center board, appointed by President Trump, voted on August 13, 2026, to inscribe "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump" on the facade and rename the plaza after him, defying a federal court order that had mandated removal of his name. The board also voted to close the center for two years of renovations. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, who won the original lawsuit, condemned the move as a circumvention of the ruling. A federal judge has set an August 18 deadline for the board to report on plans.
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Kennedy Center Board Renews Effort to Add Trump's Name to Building
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, now chaired by President Donald Trump and filled with his allies, approved a plan to add Trump's name to the building again, despite a federal judge ruling in May that a previous attempt to rename the institution was unlawful. The new proposal seeks to circumvent the ruling by adding the phrase 'Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump' under the main signage. The article questions the motive behind the effort, noting that Trump's takeover has led to plummeting ticket sales, artist cancellations, and a decline in donations, with the Washington National Opera leaving the venue. The author argues the move is a vanity project unlikely to last, as a future Democratic president would likely remove the name.
Kennedy Center Board Renews Effort to Add Trump's Name to Building
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, now chaired by President Donald Trump and filled with his allies, approved a plan on August 13, 2026, to add Trump's name to the building again. This follows a May 2026 ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that a previous attempt to rename the center as 'The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' violated the 1964 statute naming the institution. The new plan seeks to circumvent the ruling by adding the phrase 'Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump' under the main signage. The article questions the motive, noting that the takeover has led to plummeting ticket sales, canceled performances, and declining donations, with the Washington National Opera leaving the venue. The author argues the effort is a vanity project unlikely to last, as a future Democratic president would likely remove Trump's name.
Kennedy Center Board Votes to Restore Trump's Name on Building
President Donald Trump's handpicked Kennedy Center board voted to add his name back to the building's facade and proceed with a plan to close most of the center for two years of renovations. This move appears to circumvent a May court ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that blocked the center's closure and ordered Trump's name removed. The board decided the facade would read 'The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump,' and the grounds would be renamed 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza.' Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who successfully sued to have Trump's name removed, called the decision a transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling. The Kennedy Center has become a metaphor for presidential power in Trump's second term. The board's decisions remain subject to Judge Cooper's approval.
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Kennedy Center Board Votes to Restore Trump's Name to Building
The Kennedy Center board, handpicked by President Donald Trump, voted on Thursday to add his name back to the building's facade and proceed with a plan to close most of the center for two years of renovations. This move is seen as an attempt to circumvent a federal law governing the center and a May court ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that blocked the closure and ordered Trump's name removed. The facade will now read 'The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump,' and the grounds will be renamed 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza.' Rep. Joyce Beatty, who successfully sued to have Trump's name removed, called the decision a transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling. The board's decisions are subject to Cooper's approval. The Kennedy Center has become a metaphor for presidential power in Trump's second term.
Kennedy Center Board Votes to Restore Trump's Name to Building Facade
The Kennedy Center board, handpicked by President Donald Trump, voted to add his name back to the building's facade and rename the grounds 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza,' following a May court ruling that ordered the name removed. The board also plans to close most of the center for two years of renovations. Representative Joyce Beatty, who successfully sued to have Trump's name removed, called the move a 'transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling.' The decisions are subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who issued the original order. The controversy highlights the Kennedy Center as a symbol of presidential power in Trump's second term.
Trump Defies Court Order to Put Name on Kennedy Center
The Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted to close the center for two years for renovations in Trump's image and to place a plaque reading 'Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump' on the building, circumventing a law prohibiting new memorials in public areas. This follows a previous closure attempt blocked by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who called the board's decision 'ill-informed and seemingly preordained.' Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who successfully sued the center in May, called the move a transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling. The article notes that Trump's takeover has damaged the institution, with ticket sales plummeting and cultural legitimacy suffering, and includes critical commentary from journalist Chuck Todd.
Trump-Appointed Kennedy Center Board Votes to Close for Renovations, Add Trump's Name Despite Court Order
The Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted to close the center for two years for renovations and to add a plaque reading 'Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump,' circumventing a law that prohibits new memorials in public areas. This follows a previous attempt to close the center in May, which was blocked by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who called the decision 'ill-informed and seemingly preordained.' The board must submit its closure plan to Judge Cooper by next week. Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who successfully sued the center in May, called the vote a 'transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling.' The article notes that Trump's takeover has damaged the institution, with ticket sales plummeting and cultural legitimacy suffering.
Trump-Appointed Kennedy Center Board Votes to Close for Renovations, Defies Court Order on Naming
The Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted to close the center for two years for renovations in Trump's image, and to place a plaque reading 'Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump' on the building, circumventing a law that prohibits additional memorials in public areas. This follows a previous attempt to close the center in May that was blocked by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who called the decision 'ill-informed and seemingly preordained.' Judge Cooper must still review the new closure plan. Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who successfully sued the center in May, condemned the vote as a 'transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling.' The article notes that Trump's takeover has damaged the institution, with ticket sales plummeting and cultural legitimacy suffering.
Kennedy Center Board Votes to Place Trump's Name on Facade Despite Court Order
The Kennedy Center's board of trustees, heavily stocked with Trump loyalists, voted to inscribe President Donald Trump's name on the building's facade, defying a federal court order that had previously mandated its removal. The new inscription would read 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.' The board also voted to rename the outdoor plaza 'the President Donald J. Trump Plaza' and to close most of the facility for two years for renovations. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who successfully sued to have Trump's name removed in June, condemned the vote as 'a transparent effort to circumvent' the judge's ruling. Her lawyers vowed to challenge the board's actions in court again. The center was originally renamed the Trump Kennedy Center in December 2025 after Trump appointed himself to the board and removed several trustees.
Kennedy Center Board Votes to Inscribe Trump's Name Despite Court Order
The Kennedy Center's board, largely appointed by President Donald Trump, voted on August 13, 2026, to add an inscription reading 'Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump' below the venue's main sign. This move appears to test a federal judge's order requiring the removal of Trump's name from the facade, which was added last year in violation of a law reserving naming authority to Congress. The board also voted to close the main building for renovations, allocating $48 million for theater restorations and upgrades. Tarps and scaffolding have covered the sign since June 13, when workers complied with a court deadline to remove Trump's name. The tarps have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Joyce Beatty, who filed the original lawsuit. A federal judge has set an August 18 deadline for the board to report on construction plans and the status of the tarps.