Kennedy Center Board Votes to Restore Donald Trump's Name to Multiple Areas of Facility
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The Kennedy Center’s board approved a resolution to add Donald Trump's name to the front facade, a new plaza designation and an endowment plaque, despite a federal judge’s order that only Congress may change the center’s name.
The board of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts approved a resolution that would place former President Donald J. Trump’s name on three separate locations at the venue. The plan calls for the words “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” to appear directly below the center’s official name on the front facade, followed by a future inscription “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund” once a $100 million endowment threshold is reached. In addition, the board would rename the grounds surrounding the building as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.”
The resolution was filed in federal court on Tuesday. The board, chaired by Trump and including former administration officials and media personalities, previously added Trump’s name to the facade in December, prompting a lawsuit by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH). In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress could authorize such a name change, leading to the removal of Trump references from the center’s website and signage.
Beatty’s attorneys argue the new resolution violates the court order, stating that adding “Restored and Renovated by” or “Endowed by” does not provide a lawful basis to ignore the ruling. They cite a statute prohibiting additional memorials or plaques in public areas of the Kennedy Center. The center’s legal team says the scaffolding and tarp covering the facade are necessary for ongoing construction and marble-facade repairs, and that any further changes will be postponed until at least September 8, when the court is asked to rule again.
Separately, the board voted to pursue a two-year closure of the main facility while maintaining limited programming at The Reach, an adjacent extension. The center’s attorneys reference an independent analysis that presented a partial-closure option, which they say would extend the timeline and reduce revenue. Beatty’s team contends the analysis was insufficient and is seeking a more thorough discovery process. The center is also appealing the May decision that halted the earlier closure plan.
A Kennedy Center spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.