The Kennedy Center board has voted to close the iconic Washington performing arts venue for up to two years for major repairs, hours after a federal judge blocked a fresh attempt to add US President Donald Trump’s name to the building.
The board approved the closure on Tuesday, September 15, as the centre faces mounting financial pressure and a $257 million renovation programme. Trump, who chairs the board, later said the renovation would not begin unless the courts allow his name to be added to the centre.
Judge Blocks Trump Name Again
US District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the latest ruling on Tuesday, blocking the board from placing Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center or renaming its plaza in his honour.
Cooper said the board could not install a memorial to Trump without
approval from Congress. The ruling also reinforced an earlier order that required Trump’s name to be removed from the building.
The judge rejected the board’s argument that recognising Trump was necessary to secure financial support for the centre. He noted that Congress had already approved $257 million for renovations.
Trump Threatens To Halt Renovation
Trump said the renovation would be delayed while the administration appeals the ruling. He said the Justice Department would challenge Cooper’s decision in a higher court.
“If the ruling is a negative one, which it should not be, and is not overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Reconstruction and the Renovation of The Kennedy Center will not take place,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The board has argued that the centre urgently needs repairs and has warned of serious financial problems. A partial ceiling collapse in a main corridor earlier this month added to concerns about the condition of the building.
The centre has also reported falling revenue and fundraising after artists cancelled performances and major resident organisations moved elsewhere.
Opened in 1971 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, the Kennedy Center has hosted major performers, the Washington National Opera and the National Symphony Orchestra. It is also the home of the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
(With inputs from agencies)
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