Kennedy Center Board Votes to Shut Down Indefinitely After Judge Blocks Trump Renaming
On Tuesday, the board of the Kennedy Center decided to shut down the venue indefinitely following a federal judge's ruling that prohibited President Donald Trump from adding his name to the building or renaming the campus as "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." Judge Christopher R. Cooper stated that only Congress has the authority to approve such memorials. The board, predominantly consisting of Trump appointees, contended that the name was essential for securing funding. During the meeting, Trump called in and confronted trustee Representative Joyce Beatty, who mentioned that his actions had led to the venue's financial troubles. Trump asserted that the building would close "immediately" and that renovations would commence after a decision on the name. This ruling marked Trump's third legal defeat in just 24 hours.
Key facts
- The Kennedy Center board voted to close the venue indefinitely on Tuesday, ostensibly for repairs.
- Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled that Congress alone controls the Kennedy Center's name, blocking Trump's renaming efforts.
- Trump called into the board meeting and yelled at Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty.
- An unnamed board member called Trump's call "fucking crazy" to CNN; another source said he screamed throughout.
- Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that he raised $17 million for the center and that renovation cannot begin until the D.C. Circuit rules on the name.
- Programming was initially projected to end in July for a two-year renovation announced in February.
- The judge's decision was Trump's third major legal loss in less than 24 hours.
- Trump renamed the center "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" in December.
Entities
Artists
- Donald Trump
- Joyce Beatty
- Christopher R. Cooper
- John F. Kennedy
- Christopher Cooper
Institutions
- Kennedy Center
- CNN
- Truth Social
- D.C. Circuit
- Congress
- Supreme Court
- US Department of Justice
- BBC
- Washington Post
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- U.S. District Court
- Associated Press
- Federal District Court in Washington
- The New York Times
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- Ohio
- Washington
Sources
- ArtsJournal —
- BBC Culture —
- ArtsJournal —
- ArtsJournal —