Kennedy Center closes amid financial crisis and Trump name dispute

The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted to shutter the Washington, DC performing arts complex, telling patrons and stakeholders the move was necessary because of a severe financial shortfall and the need for extensive renovations. Trustees, many appointed by President Donald Trump, argued the center faces imminent fiscal collapse and that immediate action was required to protect the building and its programs. The decision came hours after US District Judge Casey Cooper rejected the board's latest plan to restore President Trump's name to the venue. Cooper found that installing a memorial or inscription honoring Trump would violate an earlier court order and that any formal renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center requires action by Congress. The board had proposed a plaque reading 'restored and renovated by President Donald J Trump' under the existing signage. President Trump reacted on social media, calling the closure a safety-driven action and saying renovations would not proceed unless his name was placed on the facade. He also asserted he could raise the necessary funds and oversee construction, and hinted at possible additional measures drawing on presidential authority. The board had previously added Trump's name in December 2025, but Cooper ordered its removal in May after finding that change unlawful; scaffolding and tarps still cover the affected area. Supporters of the court ruling, including lawyers for Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, called the decision a defense of the center's original dedication to John F. Kennedy and said it upheld the rule of law. Beatty, who sued to block the administration's alterations, accused Trump of holding the institution 'hostage.' Senator Mark Warner, another ex officio board member, urged cooperation with Congress to secure renovation funding and criticized the choice to close the center rather than pursue legislative solutions. The Washington Post has reported the venue was at risk of bankruptcy and could close imminently, a scenario trustees said placing Trump's name on the building might have averted.