Key facts
- The Kennedy Center will not attempt to restore President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade before at least Sept. 8.
- Opponents of the move claim the Kennedy Center's board is intent on defying a court order to remove the name.
- A resolution passed by the board aims to name the plaza after Trump and add his name to the facade.
- The board also agreed to add a further reference to Trump if the Trump Kennedy Center Fund reaches $100 million.
- The Kennedy Center recommended a full two-year closure for renovations to minimize costs and disruptions.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has informed a federal court that it will not reinstate President Donald Trump's name on the building's facade before September 8, at the earliest. This development arises from a legal dispute over the board's efforts to affix Trump's name to the venue.
Opponents, including Representative Joyce Beatty, have expressed concerns that the Trump-aligned board members are intent on defying a previous court order mandating the removal of the president's name. In a recent filing, Beatty's lawyers urged U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper for an earlier ruling, citing a belief that the defendants would attempt to implement the resolution as soon as possible after September 8.
The board's recent meeting, initially focused on renovation options, shifted to a push to associate Trump's name with the building. A resolution was passed to name the plaza in front of the venue after Trump and to add his name to the facade, reading "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump." Additionally, the board agreed to include a further reference if the "Trump Kennedy Center Fund" reaches $100 million.
The Kennedy Center also proposed a full two-year closure for renovations, a recommendation from Delta Consulting Group that aims to minimize costs and disruptions to programming, including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. However, Beatty's lawyers questioned the integrity of this vote, noting that materials were provided to the board only two days prior and that some documents appeared to predate a previous ruling on the removal of Trump's name.