Trump's fight to rename Kennedy Center puts its future in jeopardy
Washington's Kennedy Center abruptly shut its doors after a judge blocked Trump's name from being added to its facade, with the president now threatening prolonged closure or demolition. Critics say the real cause is a financial crisis triggered by his own appointees' decisions.
The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC abruptly closed to the public on Tuesday afternoon, with barricades and security guards blocking entry soon after. The closure followed a ruling by US district judge Christopher Cooper that only Congress can authorize renaming the memorial, meaning Trump's name cannot be restored to the building's facade without lawmakers' approval.
The president has said the center is "destined to doom" without his name attached, and was photographed aboard Air Force One holding a sign referencing demolition alongside an image of construction equipment clearing rubble. Legally, Trump has no authority to demolish an institution established by Congress, and critics including Kennedy family member Kerry Kennedy have compared his behavior to a child throwing a tantrum over a toy.
Trump took control of the center in February 2025, removing board members and leadership, shutting down an anti-racism outreach program, and purging programming deemed "woke." The center saw sharp declines in audiences, performers, and donors as a result. In January, following the premiere of a documentary about Melania Trump, the president announced a two-year, $257m closure for renovations.
The Trump-appointed board also approved renaming the venue the "Trump-Kennedy Center," but courts blocked the move. After this week's ruling, the board voted to close the facility for two years, citing safety risks from structural deterioration. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, argue the closure is a pretext masking a financial crisis caused by artist boycotts and falling ticket sales.
On Thursday, the judge ordered that the center must give at least 30 days' notice before any major physical changes, including demolition. On Friday, roughly a dozen staff were laid off. Former center president Michael Kaiser warned that even a two-year closure would cause lasting damage, as audiences and donors who leave rarely return quickly. Thousands of protesters gathered outside the center on Friday evening, calling for the institution to remain untouched.
