Kennedy Center Board Votes to Close Building for Renovations, Add Trump’s Name

The Kennedy Center’s Trump-appointed board has voted again to close the main building for renovations, a move that remains contingent on approval from federal Judge Christopher R. Cooper. The same judge blocked an earlier attempt in May, ruling that the board had not adequately weighed the consequences of shutting the institution.

The new resolution argues that keeping the building open during construction would be too expensive. The renovation plan carries an estimated $250 million price tag, covering structural repairs, new marble floors, and $11.8 million in what are described as acoustical improvements. The vote came during a meeting in which the board also approved adding a line to the exterior below John F. Kennedy’s name: “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.”

The push to shutter the Kennedy Center arrives after months of cancellations by artists and groups since Trump’s takeover. That pattern has led some to interpret the closure as a way to limit embarrassment over the exodus. The legal friction extends beyond the building itself; earlier this week, the center was ordered to pay more than $250,000 in legal fees to jazz drummer Chuck Redd following his canceled Christmas concert. A previous attempt to place Trump’s name above Kennedy’s was removed in June by court order.