The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced it will refrain from immediately reinstating President Donald Trump’s name at the Washington, DC venue, according to a joint court filing submitted on Tuesday. The board of trustees indicated it had made a commitment to pause further action until September 8 as legal arguments continue to develop.
The dispute centers on efforts to increase Trump’s association with the cultural institution since the beginning of his second term in 2025. Last December, the board voted to affix Trump’s name to the building, a decision widely regarded as conflicting with the congressional act that established the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to former President John F Kennedy. Trump subsequently announced plans in February to close the venue for two years of renovations. A federal judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name in May, ruling that only Congress possessed the authority to alter the venue’s official designation.
Notwithstanding the court order, the Kennedy Center’s board voted 20-3 last week to inscribe a phrase crediting Trump for restoration and renovation work, along with naming the plaza after him. In the Tuesday filing, attorneys representing Democratic lawmaker Joyce Beatty, who sits on the board and initiated a lawsuit against the board, contended that some members appeared determined to disregard the May court ruling. Beatty’s legal team suggested the board would likely attempt to implement aspects of the new resolution immediately following September 8.
Attorneys for the Trump administration disputed these characterizations, stating the record would demonstrate the board’s prudence. The building currently features tarps and scaffolding covering the area where Trump’s name was previously displayed. Board lawyers attributed the protective barrier to necessary water testing and structural repairs to the roof overhang. Beatty’s legal team countered that this explanation effectively acknowledged damage to the venue’s historic marble surfaces.
The Kennedy Center has faced multiple legal challenges related to its Trump rebrand. A judge awarded jazz musician Chuck Redd over $250,000 in legal fees after the venue sued him for cancelling his performance in response to the institutional changes. The case was dismissed in June.
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