Fencing has been installed around the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., following a decision by the center’s board to close it after a federal judge blocked plans to rename it with President Trump's name. The closure and fencing have raised concerns among activists who fear demolition of parts of the building, despite Congress allocating $257 million for renovations. Rep. Joyce Beatty has requested an emergency court hearing to address what she calls an "unlawful closure," as security guards deny access to the public and construction is reportedly beginning inside the facility.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In February 2025, President Donald Trump announced his intention to rid the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. of what he termed "woke culture," claiming it was necessary to run the institution properly. However, in May 2026, a federal judge ruled that renaming the center after Trump was illegal, forcing him to abandon his plans.
In response to this legal setback and financial strain, the Kennedy Center's board chaired by Trump is now considering adding his name back to the building facade through various inscriptions, such as "Renovation Restoration and Endowment overseen by President Donald J. Trump." The center faces imminent fiscal collapse without significant fundraising support, which they argue only Trump can provide on a large scale.
The Kennedy Center's board members, many recently appointed by Trump himself, are scheduled to vote this week on 10 options for reinstating his name and recognition. Critics like Ohio Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty view these efforts as a transparent attempt to circumvent the federal court order preventing such changes. The institution is reportedly at risk of closing as early as Tuesday due to financial insolvency if Trump's name isn't restored, highlighting how political actions have severely impacted its operations and funding stability.
Written for “Kennedy Center Trump Naming Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 25 other(s) covering the same event.
Fencing goes up around Kennedy Center as activists worry it will be demolished
Centre's board voted to close after judge blocked return of Trump's name to institution
Fencing went up Wednesday around the main Kennedy Center building, a day after the Trump-aligned board voted to close most of the performing arts centre for repairs.
asserted
board → go → repairs
That vote came after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning U.S. President Donald Trump's name to the building.
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judge → come → building
The Republican president had said in a social media post that the closure was needed for safety repairs.
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closure → say → repairs
But he said the repairs, which Congress has allocated $257 million US to cover, would only happen if the board was permitted to move forward with plans to add his name to the building.
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board → say → building
Activists who have opposed the closure said there has been no vehicle or pedestrian access to the building.
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who → oppose → building
An Associated Press reporter who approached the main building was told by a security guard that it was closed.
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it → approach → guard
Fears of 'a wrecking ball'
Laura Bligh, who has attended protests with the advocacy group Hands Off the Arts, said she feared some or all of the building may be torn down before a legal case is concluded.
uncertain
case → wreck → building
"The worst case scenario is a wrecking ball," she said, adding that the Trump administration can't be trusted because "look what they did to the East Wing."
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they → say → Wing
The administration demolished the East Wing of the White House and is replacing it with a massive ballroom.
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administration → demolish → ballroom
Trump also plans to build a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and is eyeing a golf course renovation along the Potomac River.
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Trump → plan → River
The Kennedy Center board voted in August to inscribe his name on the Kennedy Center's facade so it would read "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump."
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it → vote → Trump
If the Trump Kennedy Center Fund reached $100 million US, another inscription would be added reading "Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund."
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inscription → reach → Fund
The plaza in front of the Kennedy Center would also be renamed in Trump's honour.
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plaza → rename → honour
Board proposals shot down by judge
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proposals → shoot → judge
All of those proposals were shot down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ruled that nothing could happen "without Congress's blessing."
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nothing → shoot → blessing
Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board, requested an emergency court hearing Wednesday regarding what she called Trump's "unlawful closure of the Kennedy Center."
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she → request → Center
Beatty has led efforts to block Trump's name from being added to the building, and had a verbal confrontation with Trump Tuesday during a virtual board meeting.
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Beatty → lead → meeting
A staff member for a legal team representing Beatty was denied entrance to the building on Wednesday, Beatty's lawyer said in a court filing.
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lawyer → represent → filing
The staffer "was informed by several security staff members that the building is currently closed to the public," the filing said.
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filing → inform → public
The staff member also was informed that construction is beginning on the building's interior and that the public is completely barred from accessing the facility for "safety reasons," the filing said, adding that the nature of the construction activities and any potential demolition are unclear.
uncertain
nature → inform → activities
"Given the unexplained and unlawful closure, it is possible Defendants intend to undertake immediate steps in order to make public access practically impossible for the foreseeable future, including by demolishing public avenues of access to the building, and thereby evade the court's order," the filing said.
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filing → give → order
Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center, did not respond to requests for comment.
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Daravi → respond → comment
But she wrote on social media that the building must be closed for safety reasons.
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building → write → reasons
"Compounding systemic infrastructure failures from decades of neglect have left a crumbling building and safety concerns require an immediate closure of @TKCOfficial main building," she wrote on X. "Chairman @realDonaldTrump continues to support this great American institution while legal battles halt the progress to save it."
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battles → compound → it
Maria Shriver, John F. Kennedy's niece and former first lady of California, called the standoff over the name "a sad state of affairs" and a "tragedy."
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Shriver → call → affairs
She said in a post on X that it appears Trump "will not rest until his name is permanently connected to the name of a great president, whose memory this building was dedicated to."
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building → say → memory
"Imagine spending your days focused on this, while a war rages under your leadership," she added.
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she → spend → leadership
The Aporia
