The Kennedy Center is set to close its main building after the institution’s Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to proceed with an immediate shutdown, citing safety concerns, major repair needs and financial difficulties.
President Donald Trump, who serves as the board’s chairman, responded to the decision in a post on Truth Social. He said the closure will allow the center to begin the process leading toward reconstruction, but argued that the renovation itself cannot begin until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rules on the board’s approved effort to recognize him on the building.
The dispute follows a federal court ruling issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper. The judge blocked the board from adding Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center building or renaming its grounds after him without congressional approval.
Trump said the Justice Department will seek an expedited appeal. He also said the renovation would not proceed if the appeal ultimately fails and the decision is not overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the meantime, Trump said $17 million he raised for the Kennedy Center has been deposited into the institution’s account to help keep it financially afloat. The claim was also reported following his Truth Social statement.
The Kennedy Center has faced mounting financial pressure alongside the dispute over its name and renovation plans. Board materials released before Tuesday’s meeting warned of serious financial difficulties, including concerns about the institution’s ability to meet payroll and routine expenses.
The board’s closure decision does not mean all Kennedy Center activity will stop. Plans call for educational and artistic programming to continue at The REACH, while some major programs are expected to move to off-site venues.
The next major development will be the federal appeals process, which will determine whether the board’s proposed recognition of Trump receives further legal consideration before the planned reconstruction moves forward.
