White House and Kennedy Center board approve Trump signage amid legal fight
The White House and the Kennedy Center’s board voted on 14 August to add signage reading “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” to the venue in Washington, D. C. , a move that has sparked legal challenges and public criticism as the 2026 midterm election approaches.
The decision follows a series of board actions that began on 11 August, when the board convened to examine three renovation proposals after a federal judge halted a plan for a two-year full shutdown. Later that day the board approved a $250 million renovation that would keep the REACH venue open and voted to restore President Trump’s name on the main entrance. The board also approved a plaque bearing the Trump inscription, directly contesting the judge’s order to remove the former president’s name.