The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, now dominated by allies of President Donald Trump, voted Thursday to restore Trump’s name to the iconic Washington arts complex and to close its main building for two years of renovations—a move that appears to circumvent a federal judge’s order issued earlier this year.
According to The New York Times and The Washington Post, both citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the proceedings, the board approved adding the inscription “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” to the building, placed directly below the main signage. The vote took place at a meeting on Thursday, though the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
Tarp and a Legal Standoff
The decision comes after months of legal wrangling. In May, a federal judge—appointed by former President Barack Obama—ordered that Trump’s name be removed from the facade, ruling that only Congress had the authority to change the building’s name. In mid-June, the center’s Executive Director Matt Floca said the institution had “removed all physical signage on the Kennedy Center building and grounds” containing Trump’s name.
But a tarp has remained draped over the facade since then, raising questions about what changes were actually made. Thursday’s board vote appears to be an attempt to work around the judge’s order by framing the inscription as a renovation credit rather than a renaming.
It remains unclear how the new inscription would comply with the court’s ruling, which specifically barred the addition of Trump’s name to the exterior. The judge had also blocked a separate plan to close the building for two years, though the court suggested the plan could be reconsidered after further review—a window the board may now be using.
A Two-Year Closure for Repairs
In addition to the inscription vote, the board approved a plan to close the Kennedy Center’s main building for two years to complete repairs to its heating, cooling, electrical, and fire safety systems. The work is slated to be finished by summer 2028, according to the report.
The closure would effectively shutter the venue’s primary performance spaces, potentially disrupting the schedules of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, and countless touring productions. No details were provided on how the board intends to handle existing bookings or whether alternative venues would be used during the shutdown.
A Pattern of Personal Branding
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has aggressively imprinted his personal brand on institutions across Washington, breaking with political norms. The Kennedy Center’s board initially voted in December to rename the venue as “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” Trump’s name was quickly added to the facade in large letters above Kennedy’s, sparking cancellations of shows and a plunge in ticket sales for remaining events.
The move is part of a broader pattern. The now-defunct U.S. Institute of Peace was also renamed after Trump, his face has appeared on huge banners outside the Justice and Agriculture Departments, his image is featured on a limited edition U.S. passport, and the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, now bears his name.
Critics have accused Trump of using public institutions as personal branding opportunities, while supporters argue he is properly honoring his contributions and leadership. The Kennedy Center board, now stacked with Trump allies, has shown little sign of backing down from the fight.
Legal experts note that the judge’s order remains in effect, and it is uncertain whether the new inscription would survive a legal challenge. The tarp over the facade suggests the center is waiting for the right moment to unveil its latest move.
For now, the arts community in Washington is bracing for a two-year closure of one of the nation’s most prominent cultural venues, while the legal battle over Trump’s name on the building continues to simmer.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/08/13/kennedy-center-to-restore-trumps-name-close-2-years-for-repairs-marking-victory-over-obama-appointed-judge/