Trump defies court order, pushes Kennedy Center closure and renaming under renovation guise

Published Aug 13, 09:18 PM UTC

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.