President Donald Trump announced on 15/9 that the Kennedy Center's board, appointed by him, had voted almost unanimously to close the facility for emergency renovations. This decision came hours after a U.S. federal judge ruled against naming the center after him.
He warned that "major and complex repairs" at the Kennedy Center would not commence until a higher court ruled on the facility's renaming. "If the ruling is unfavorable, which he deemed inappropriate, and is not overturned by the Supreme Court, the reconstruction and renovation of the Kennedy Center will not proceed," he stated on social media.
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Security personnel patrol the Kennedy Center in Washington, U.S., on 15/9. Photo: AP
The Kennedy Center stated that the board's decision "reflects sound judgment and a clear priority that safety comes first."
Immediately after beginning his second term, President Trump appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, a facility named in honor of the late President John F. Kennedy.
In 12/2025, the board voted to name the facility the "Trump-Kennedy Center" and installed signage bearing President Trump's name. Federal Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the removal of the signs and rejected the board's decision to rename the facility.
On 15/9, Judge Cooper ruled against reattaching President Trump's name to the center, reprimanding the board for attempting to circumvent his previous order. According to Cooper, the board was not authorized to install any item honoring President Trump without U.S. congressional approval.
President Trump and Kennedy Center leadership asserted that the main building, constructed in the 1960s, had deteriorated to a dangerous extent. He cited a recent incident where a section of the ceiling collapsed after a storm.
A section of the ceiling fell at the Kennedy Center in a video posted on 14/9. Video: Truth Social/realDonaldTrump
"If the building remained open, innocent people would have died," the U.S. President wrote on social media before the judge issued his ruling.
The Trump administration warned last month that the Kennedy Center might need demolition if renovation plans for the facility were blocked.
By Pham Giang (AFP)
