The Kennedy Center board voted on August 13, 2026, to add an inscription on the building facade reading "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump," despite a federal judge's ruling barring the use of Trump's name without congressional approval [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]. The vote to add the inscription passed by a strong supermajority of 20-3, with Democrats including Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse opposing the move [10]. The board also voted to rename the physical site outside the building the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza" [5, 10].
The board, mostly composed of Trump allies appointed after his 2024 election, is chaired by Trump himself [1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9]. It justified the inscription by citing Trump's role in securing $257 million from Congress to fund the Kennedy Center's renovations [10]. A Kennedy Center spokesperson said the board "reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the responsible stewardship of America's Cultural Center," adding that Trump’s "unprecedented support" enables the revitalization project to commence [10].
The board approved closing the main Kennedy Center building for two years to complete renovations addressing heating, cooling, electrical, fire safety, and structural issues, while keeping the adjacent Reach building open for limited programming [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10]. An independent analysis ordered by the court projected a $3.4 million surplus with the two-year closure plan compared to a $78 million deficit under a longer phased closure [10]. The project is expected to finish by summer 2028 [9, 10].
This decision follows a May 2026 federal judge’s order that Trump’s name be removed from the Kennedy Center because only Congress has authority to rename the institution [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. The center removed Trump’s name in June 2026, covering the area with tarp and scaffolding starting June 13, but continued to appeal the ruling [1, 2, 5, 7, 9].
Congresswoman Beatty strongly criticized the August 13 vote, stating, "This latest development is a transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed. I will continue to fight for this treasured national monument" [1]. She also described the board’s action as flagrantly disregarding the court order [2]. Senator Whitehouse condemned the vote, saying the board "again voted to put President Trump's name on the building, flagrantly defying the court order" [2].
The board also plans to inscribe "Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund" once that fund reaches a $100 million endowment, although this is not finalized [10].
