According to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian on August 26, Trump's lawyer issued a warning in court documents: If the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. does not undergo renovations costing $250 million, it will face the risk of being demolished. The Trump administration argued that if the building is left un repaired, it will become "unsafe and dilapidated," and then demolition may be necessary, with the building possibly being converted into a large outdoor amphitheater.
Trump's actions appear to be aimed at renovating an old building, but they come at a time when he is actively leaving a trail of construction work in Washington. It is reported that he has demolished the East Wing of the White House to build a dance hall costing $600 million, and he has also renovated the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial, leading to an overabundance of algae. The controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center has persisted for several months, with the focus being on Trump's attempts to renovate and rename this monument established by Congress to commemorate the president who was assassinated in 1963.
The Trump administration argued that this move did not violate the ban, as the building continued to be named after Kennedy in its official title, and the additional wording was merely a token expression of gratitude to the donor.
In 2025, the name of the art center’s exterior was briefly changed to “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center”. However, Judge Cooper ruled in May 2026 that the name must be removed, emphasizing that “the venue should only be named after President Kennedy”, and stating that “only Congress has the authority to change the name of the Kennedy Center”. Subsequently, Trump’s name was covered with tarpaulins in June 2026.
However, a new board of directors appointed by Trump decided on August 13th, with 20 votes in favor and 3 against, to significantly rename the art center as "John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center Repaired and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump". The venue was also named "President Trump Square".
subsequently, U.S. Representative Josette Bate filed an emergency motion with the court on August 20, 2026, requesting that the board be prevented from inscribing Trump's name on the building once again.
The Kennedy Center was established by Congress and opened in 1971. It has hosted many famous celebrities over the years. Since Trump took over last year, the center has struggled both in terms of art and commercial operations. According to the Washington Post, after the board voted to rename the center after Trump in December, ticket sales, which were already declining, plummeted further.
In the face of this “threat document” from Trump, the civil organization “Free Art” publicly challenged him: “Trump is issuing a threat to the judge and the American people—either allow him to ‘take over’ the Kennedy memorial site, or blow it to smithereens. We have witnessed the destruction of the East Wing of the White House, and we will not let the Kennedy Center be desecrated again.”
