Kennedy Center Board Votes to Reinstate Trump's Name on Building

In a significant reversal, the board of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. has voted to reinstate President Donald Trump’s name on the arts venue. This decision comes just two months after a federal judge ordered the removal of “Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump” from the building’s facade.

Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a board member, stated that the vote occurred on Thursday. She criticized the action as a “transparent effort to circumvent the court’s ruling” and a disregard for congressional statutes. Beatty vowed to continue her fight to protect the “treasured national monument.”

The board also approved proceeding with a two-year renovation closure, which had previously been halted by a federal judge. In May, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that adding the president’s name to the center was unlawful, as U.S. law designates it as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy and requires congressional approval for renaming.

Despite the judge’s order, the name was removed last month. An appeals court had allowed the removal to proceed while further arguments were heard. The Trump administration had previously argued that removing the name could cause confusion if the decision were eventually overturned.

President Trump had announced the addition of his name to the institution, alongside other rebranding efforts in the capital, last year. In February 2025, he replaced several trustees and appointed himself as a trustee before being elected chairman of the arts center.

This latest development marks a continuation of the controversy surrounding the naming and operation of the Kennedy Center. The board’s decision to re-assert Trump’s name appears to be a direct challenge to the judicial order.

Source: Nile Post