The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Sept. 16, 2026, to close the Washington, D.C., venue for renovations, according to the factual brief. The decision came during a virtual meeting that also featured a sharp exchange between President Donald Trump, who serves as the board’s chairman, and Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio. Trump called Beatty incompetent and destructive; Beatty described his conduct as unprofessional.
The closure vote is the latest development in a legal fight over whether Trump’s name may be added to the center’s facade. A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the name addition. In the meantime, the White House removed the name but covered the altered signage with a tarp.
A Memorial to Kennedy, and a Branding Battle
Congress created the Kennedy Center in 1964 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. It is the sole memorial to JFK in Washington, comparable in purpose to the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Trump is known for branding buildings and products, and he has expanded that practice to an airport, an institute, savings accounts and currency, according to the brief.
Trump’s board replaced the former board, and Trump was named chairman. He fired former chairman David Rubenstein, who had personally donated $120 million to the center. Opponents of the name change argue that altering the facade requires an act of Congress.
Trump has pledged $17 million for renovations if his name is restored. He has said reconstruction will not happen if the name is not restored. He also posted on Truth Social calling for an expedited appeal after the injunction.
Programming Disrupted
The center typically hosted up to 3,000 performances yearly. The dispute and the coming closure have already disrupted its resident companies and signature events. Washington Opera moved to a nearby university stage in January. The National Symphony Orchestra delayed finding venues for months before securing six smaller concert halls in August. Dance and jazz programming has been canceled. The Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Prize have been moved to alternative locations.
Critics say the takeover has hurt programming and ticket sales. The White House says the programming was woke and the center dilapidated. Both sides agree that renovations are needed. Former board members say past renovations did not close the entire building.
The legal battle remains ongoing. The preliminary injunction blocking the name addition is still in effect, and Trump has pressed for a swift appeal.
