The venue also voted again to close for two years to complete extensive renovations.
Published August 13, 2026
Nearly three months after a court ordered the removal of the U.S. president’s name, the Kennedy Center’s board of directors has voted to proceed with the center’s two-year closure and reinstate Donald Trump’s name on the historic performing arts building, officials said.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who serves on the board through Congressional Leadership, and her attorney issued a statement Thursday condemning the move.
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“This morning’s decision to close the center and the amazing agenda of putting Donald Trump’s name back on the building were nearly identical,” Beatty said.
“This latest development is a clear effort to circumvent the court’s ruling and is contrary to the law passed by Congress,” Beatty said. “I will continue to fight for this precious national monument.”
Last year, the board of directors voted to change the venue’s name to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, sparking a national controversy and legal battle. The judge ordered Trump’s name removed, ruling that Congress, not the board, has the sole authority to change names.
After a legal controversy erupted in May, a judge ordered the names removed and also blocked the shutdown, which was scheduled to take effect July 5, saying a previous board vote supporting the move was “ill-informed and appeared preordained.”
The decision to close the center completely was the most extreme of the three approaches considered. Other options were also presented to the board, including a partial closure over four years or a phased closure focused on major repairs.
The Kennedy Center’s recent decision could spell further legal trouble for the historic venue, which has been mired in litigation since President Trump returned to power.
A judge on Monday awarded jazz musician Chuck Redd more than $250,000 in damages after he was sued by a venue that canceled a show over its rebranding with Trump’s name.
The Kennedy Center did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
