President Donald Trump and his loyalist board defied a federal judge in Washington on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The board voted to add an inscription honoring Trump and partially close the venue for a Kennedy Center renovation.
For context, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the board to remove Trump’s name eight weeks ago. Judge Cooper also temporarily blocked full venue closures in his court order. He wrote that the board has a solemn duty to memorialize a fallen president.
The board passed a new resolution despite the clear federal ruling. The added lettering would sit directly under the signage for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It reads, “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.”
The New York Times first reported the proposed inscription text on Thursday. The Daily Beast later confirmed the details of the inscription vote. Trump continues pushing to remake the storied institution in his own personal image.
Trump insisted the venue requires a two-year closure due to years of neglect and decay. He gave an impassioned speech during Thursday’s board meeting to defend his plans. He talked up his personal skills as a builder during his speech.
The president also railed against the ballooning costs of renovations at the Federal Reserve. (Is he really comparing his builder skills to federal projects?) That argument failed to convince his loudest critics.
Trump stacked the governing board with several trusted political allies. Members include White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Laura Ingraham, Maria Bartiromo, Paolo Zampolli, and Lee Greenwood. They voted to close the main building while keeping the newer REACH facility open.
The Defiant Push for the Kennedy Center Renovation
White House spokesman Liz Huston praised the controversial decisions made by the board. Huston stated that the venue is becoming the finest cultural institution in the world under Trump’s bold leadership.
Board member Paolo Zampolli shared his own wild vision for the cultural landmark. Zampolli is a former modeling agent who introduced Trump to First Lady Melania Trump. He sits at the heart of the president’s inner circle.
Zampolli suggested hosting Valentino fashion shows and building a luxury marina at the site. He also proposed high-end restaurants and sending American arts into space. He told reporters that people should make these matters less political.
Congress originally designated the cultural center as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy in 1964. Legal experts note that authority to alter the facility name belongs strictly to Congress.
The board previously attempted to rebrand the landmark as the Trump-Kennedy Center. That move sparked intense public outrage across the country and drew sharp criticism from the Kennedy family.
Crews eventually covered and removed Trump’s name from the facade last month. Workers used tarps and scaffolding to hide the contested lettering after the court ruling.
Backlash Surrounding the Kennedy Center Renovation
Trump first took control of the institution in February 2025. He installed political ally Ric Grenell to oversee operations while attacking past leadership for woke programming. Grenell was later ousted after a chaotic tenure that alienated key stakeholders.
The ongoing leadership overhaul sparked severe pushback from prominent artists and financial donors. Several performers canceled scheduled appearances to protest the dramatic political takeover.
The Washington National Opera departed the venue entirely due to constant leadership turmoil. Renowned musician Ben Folds also resigned from his role as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra.
Folds spoke out against the takeover during a Congressional hearing last month. He stated that he could no longer guarantee artists would remain safe from political retribution. Folds explained that artists might displease the president or his political lackeys.
Folds stated that he could not perform his job or mission under those stressful conditions. He noted that resigning from his position was his only remaining choice.
We cannot independently verify these claims, so take everything lightly.
The board’s latest move will soon face intense scrutiny from Judge Cooper. The legal battle over the building’s facade and operations continues to unfold in federal court.
