Kennedy Center board votes to add Trump’s name despite court order

The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Thursday to inscribe “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” beneath its main signage, a move that directly challenges a federal judge’s May order to remove the former president’s name. The decision also green‑lighted a two‑year closure of the landmark’s main building for a $250 million renovation, reigniting a legal and political showdown over who controls the monument’s identity.

Board members, most of whom were appointed by Trump, approved the resolution in a virtual meeting that was not open to the public. The vote comes as the center faces a looming deadline to submit a status report to U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who has already blocked the closure and ordered the removal of Trump’s name on the grounds that only Congress may rename the center.

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“Transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed,” Rep. Joyce Beatty, D‑Ohio, said in a statement after the vote. She warned that the board will “continue to fight for this treasured national monument.”

“Transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed.”

Joyce Beatty, U.S. Representative, via Yahoo News

The inscription would sit below the Kennedy Center’s iconic marble sign, replacing the tarp that has concealed the façade since early June. Workers erected the tarps on June 13 to comply with the judge’s order to strip the name from the building. The tarps have become a flashpoint, with Rep. Jamie Raskin calling them a “literal cover‑up” on X, and Beatty accusing the center of keeping them up to “massage broken egos.”

Beyond the naming dispute, the board’s renovation plan promises sweeping upgrades: new marble flooring, refreshed furniture in the grand foyer, upgraded acoustics costing $11.8 million, a relocated box office, a new coffee shop and $7 million in restroom renovations. An outside consultant compared two renovation scenarios, noting safety and cost concerns if the building remained open during work. Construction management firm JLL warned that phased renovation could jeopardise both budget and visitor safety.

The $250 million “renewal” project, outlined in a 163‑page plan, also proposes temporarily moving the 3,000‑pound bronze bust of President Kennedy to the newer campus wing known as the Reach, which would stay open for limited programming and serve as an “active memorial” to Kennedy.

Judge Cooper’s May ruling blocked the closure after the board’s earlier, unanimous vote to shut the center for two years, deeming the decision “ill‑informed and seemingly pre‑ordained.” He wrote that the board’s closure announcement was “derelict in discharging the full range of its responsibilities” and rested on a “one‑sided presentation of information.” The judge also stressed that the center must remain a memorial to President Kennedy, a point the board appears to be sidestepping by relocating the bust rather than preserving it in place.

The board’s latest actions will now be sent back to Cooper for review. He has until the week after the August meeting—roughly five days later—to consider whether the center has met its obligation to file a comprehensive status report on the renovation plan and the continued use of the tarps. The outcome will determine whether the inscription proceeds and whether the closure can move forward as scheduled.

Timeline of key events

Date	Event
December 2025	Board voted to rename the facility “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center” and added Trump’s name to the marble façade.
May 2026	U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled the name change unlawful, citing the 1964 law that reserves naming authority for Congress.
June 13 2026	Tarps were hoisted over the façade to hide the removed Trump inscription, complying with the court order.
July 2026	Cooper ordered the board to submit a status report on renovation plans and the tarps by Aug 20 (or five days after the board’s August meeting).
Thursday, 13 August 2026	Board voted to inscribe the Trump phrase, approve the two‑year closure and move forward with the $250 million renovation.