Kennedy Center Faces Possible Closure Amid Financial Crisis, Considers Restoring Trump Name
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The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts may close as early as Tuesday due to severe budget shortfalls, and its trustees are debating re-adding President Trump’s name to the building to secure funding.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy and could shut its doors as early as Tuesday, according to a Washington Post report. A 57-page internal document prepared by the center’s trustees warns that the institution will be unable to pay staff or cover maintenance costs within weeks and recommends an immediate closure of the main building due to safety concerns.
Trustees are considering re-adding President Donald Trump’s name to the venue’s façade, arguing it may be the only way to avert a “certain fiscal collapse.” The report notes that Trump’s involvement, including the naming, has previously hampered fundraising and ticket sales, and that a judge ruled the earlier addition of his name illegal, leading to its removal in June.
The center’s leadership overhaul began in February 2025 when Trump dismissed 18 board members appointed under the previous administration and installed allies as trustees, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and second lady Usha Vance. Subsequent changes saw the firing of longtime president Deborah Rutter, her replacement by Trump ally Richard Grenell, and later the appointment of Matt Floca as president.
The governance shake-up triggered resignations by prominent figures such as Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds and Renée Fleming, and a cancelled performance by Issa Rae. Subscription sales fell 36% by June 2025, and ticket sales continued to decline. Lawyers for the center argue that removing Trump’s name could force the return of hundreds of millions in pledged private donations, citing the institution’s bylaws. The board has asked a federal judge to delay any name change until at least October 8. The Kennedy Center has not responded to requests for comment.