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Kennedy Center naming dispute
The gist
The Kennedy Center board voted to close most of the venue after a judge blocked adding Trump's name.
The standoff pits court rulings against the board's funding argument at a premier arts institution.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2025President Trump's name was first added to the Kennedy Center building; Rep. Beatty sued to stop the board from renaming it 'The Trump Kennedy Center'.
- May 2026Judge Christopher Cooper ruled only Congress can approve name changes and that the Kennedy Center illegally added Trump's name, ordering it removed.
- Jun 2026The institution complied with the removal order but left a tarp and scaffolding where Trump's name was displayed.