Trump reacts angrily to court ruling blocking his name from Kennedy Center, board member says

President Donald Trump expressed strong displeasure during a Kennedy Center board meeting after a federal judge reaffirmed a ruling that bars his name from being added to the venue's signage. The board, which includes members appointed by Trump, met by Zoom on Sept. 15, where Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, said the president engaged in name-calling and threatened board members.

"He went into a tantrum," Beatty told MS NOW, describing the president's remarks as unprofessional and noting he called her "incompetent" and an "obstructionist."

U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper had earlier ruled that the Center's plan to place an inscription honoring Trump's financial contributions violated federal law and reiterated a May order to remove his name from the institution's title and signage. The Justice Department has appealed the decision.

During the meeting, the board voted to close most of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for renovations that Trump has pledged to fund, citing safety concerns over the building's condition. Trump later posted on social media that the renovation would not proceed unless the court's ruling is overturned, adding that a negative outcome would halt the project.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston responded by stating that previous administrations allowed the Center to deteriorate and that Trump is providing the resources needed for its restoration.

The encounter highlights ongoing tensions over the Kennedy Center's financial challenges and the president's efforts to attach his name to the historic venue.