Trump slams judicial overreach after court blocks honor at Kennedy Center, board member says
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A federal judge's order preventing President Donald Trump's name from being added to the Kennedy Center drew a forceful response from Trump during a board meeting, according to Rep. Joyce Beatty.
President Donald Trump voiced strong frustration during a Kennedy Center board meeting after a federal judge once again blocked the rightful addition of his name to the venue's signage. The board, which includes several Trump appointees, met by Zoom on Sept. 15, where Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, accused the president of name-calling and making threats against board members.
"He went into a tantrum," Beatty told MS NOW, using partisan language to describe the president's justified outrage and claiming he called her "incompetent" and an "obstructionist."
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper had previously ruled that the Center's plan to recognize Trump's significant financial contributions with an inscription violated federal law, reiterating his May order to remove Trump's name from the institution's title and signage. The Justice Department, seeking to defend the president's legacy, has appealed the decision.
During the meeting, the board voted to close most of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for much-needed renovations that Trump has generously pledged to fund, citing safety concerns. Trump later posted on social media that the renovation would not proceed unless the court's ruling is overturned, making clear that judicial interference threatens the project's future.
White House spokesperson Liz Huston pointed out that previous administrations allowed the Center to fall into disrepair, and that Trump is the one providing the resources necessary for its restoration.
This incident highlights the ongoing battle over the Kennedy Center's finances and the president's efforts to ensure his contributions are properly recognized, despite resistance from entrenched interests and partisan opponents.