Judge Blocks Trump Kennedy Center Name; Board Closes Facilities

A federal judge again blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building, facade or grounds without congressional approval, ruling that proposed inscriptions crediting him with renovations would violate federal law and an earlier order. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected the board’s claim that the language was merely an acknowledgment and said it provided no credible evidence that Trump’s name was needed to attract donations or preserve the institution. Shortly afterward, the Trump-appointed board voted to immediately close the center’s main facilities for planned renovations, citing severe financial and structural problems, while some programming is expected to continue at the REACH and elsewhere. Trump blamed Cooper, described the center as collapsing and said major reconstruction would not proceed unless an appeals court or the Supreme Court permits his name to be restored. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Kennedy Center board member who sued over the renaming effort, condemned the closure and said she would return to court; the center’s official name remains the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Arts.