The Kennedy Center board voted to add President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade and rename the site 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza' amid ongoing legal disputes.
Key facts
- •The board voted 20-3 in a virtual meeting to rename the site and add the president's name to the facade.
- •The main building is slated for a closure of up to two years for renovations.
- •Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that the center must remain a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
- •Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposed the name changes during the meeting.
- •President Trump attended the virtual board meeting for several minutes.
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted 20-3 on Thursday to re-add President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade and rename the physical site 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza.' The board also approved a plan to close the center's main building for up to two years for renovations, while keeping a smaller addition known as the Reach open for some events.
By the numbers
Legal and Congressional Opposition
The vote follows a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ordered the removal of Trump's name and blocked a previous closure attempt, stating the board lacked the authority to rename the institution. The three dissenting votes were cast by ex-officio congressional members: Rep. Joyce Beatty, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rep. Rick Larsen. Rep. Beatty characterized the board's action as a transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling and congressional statutes. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs stated the move defies the judge's previous order, which had mandated that the board provide a financial justification for any closure.
Background of the Dispute
The conflict began after President Trump, who appointed himself chairman of the board following the 2024 election, installed a new board and initially added his name to the facade in December. The board's latest decision, proposed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, includes an inscription on the building reading 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.'
Timeline
- DecemberPresident Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center facade.
- MayJudge Christopher Cooper ruled the board could not unilaterally rename the center.
- ThursdayThe board voted to re-add the president's name and rename the site.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Deutsche Welle, NBC Politics.
