Trump says Kennedy Center will close after judge blocks name change
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the Kennedy Center would close its doors, possibly permanently, after a court ruled that adding his name to the facade of the prestigious cultural institution was impermissible.
Trump explained that the center’s board of trustees in Washington voted to close the facility for urgent and necessary renovation work, and that it would not reopen unless the court ruling was overturned.
He added that the venue would close immediately, but noted that the “massive and complex” renovation work could not begin until a higher court issued a ruling on whether the center’s name could be changed to include Trump’s name.
He stated, “If the ruling is negative—and it should not be—and the U.S. Supreme Court does not overturn it, no reconstruction or renovation work will take place at the Kennedy Center.”
The Washington Post reported on Sunday that officials at the Kennedy Center, who had sought to add Donald Trump’s name to the institution, warned that the center faced the risk of bankruptcy and possible closure within days.
In the documents, officials warned that the center “may be unable to pay salaries or fulfill routine maintenance contracts” within weeks.
In a 57-page report, they argued that publicly honoring Trump at the center could secure the necessary funding and ensure its continued operation.
Shortly after returning to the White House in early 2025, Trump appointed close allies to the center’s board of directors and named himself its chairman.
However, a U.S. judge ruled on May 29 that changing the center’s name and adding Trump’s name was illegal, ordering the board to remove any references to Trump from the building and its website.
The board complied with the court order but voted on August 13 that Donald Trump’s name should be displayed on the building’s facade in recognition of his efforts in restoring the architecture.
A large number of artists canceled concerts at the center in protest of Trump’s dominance over the institution, and U.S. media reported that ticket sales had fallen to their lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Washington Post noted that the center expected to raise approximately $124 million out of an estimated $220 million in revenue in the budget, “leaving a deficit of about $23 million even after significant cost cuts” during the previous fiscal year.
The Kennedy Center declined to comment on the newspaper’s report and referred France-Presse to a recent statement by its spokesperson, Roma Daravi, which held the previous administration responsible for “decades of neglect and deferred maintenance work.”
A spokesperson told France-Presse, requesting anonymity, that “adding President Trump’s name to the building attracted new donors and was essential to raising additional funds for the center’s restoration.”
