The Kennedy Center board, chaired by Donald J. Trump, voted on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, to immediately close the performing arts venue for renovations. Following the vote, Mr. Trump stated on social media that the planned reconstruction and renovation project will not proceed unless courts permit his name to be added to the building. The decision follows a series of legal disputes over attempts to add his name to the federally designated memorial.
The board’s action occurred shortly after U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper issued a ruling blocking the institution from adding the inscription "Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump" to the facade. Judge Cooper stated that memorials for the president or anyone else cannot be installed at the site without the approval of Congress. In May 2026, the judge had previously ruled that the building must only be named after President John F. Kennedy, leading to the removal of "Donald J. Trump" from the facility's nameplates on June 13, 2026.
During the closed-door vote on Tuesday, Mr. Trump reportedly called in and engaged in a heated exchange with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who is a member of the board and a plaintiff in the legal challenge against the renaming. While the Justice Department argued in court filings that the venue is in "financial ruin" and "terminal decline," internal documents suggested the institution faced financial difficulties following the initial attempt to rename it. Rep. Beatty stated that donors and artists have avoided the center due to the "unlawful attempt" to add Mr. Trump's name.
For the public, this dispute means the "living memorial" to John F. Kennedy will remain closed to audiences, with its facade currently obscured by scaffolding and tarps. The outcome will determine whether a president can add their name to a congressionally designated national memorial through board appointments. The legal battle also tests the limits of the board’s fiduciary duty, as critics like Rep. Beatty argue that the renaming efforts have driven away the donors and artists necessary for the center's financial survival.
What happens next depends on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which is reviewing a Justice Department appeal of the earlier order barring the renaming. Mr. Trump indicated that if the appeals court rules against him, he will seek a reversal from the U.S. Supreme Court. Until a final judicial determination is reached, the venue will remain closed and the planned reconstruction project will remain suspended. A specific timeline for the court's decision has not been reported.