Kennedy Center board votes to close for renovations after court ruling

The board previously voted to name the opera house after first lady Melania Trump and later added the president's name to venue, prompting legal action.

Published: September 15, 2026 1:59pm

The board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday voted to close for renovations after a federal judge ruled it could not add President Donald Trump's name to the facility to secure his personal financial support.

The vote marked the third time the board voted to close the venue, NBC News reported. After Trump returned to the White House, he replaced the members of the board and overhauled its performance list.

The board previously voted to name the opera house after first lady Melania Trump and later added the president's name to the venue, prompting legal action.

Earlier on Tuesday, a federal judge ruled there was no way to add Trump's name without approval Congress. The board had argued that securing Trump's personal support was the only way to stave off financial collapse as the facility struggled to maintain itself.

A partial ceiling collapse made headlines earlier this year and renewed Trump's efforts.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.

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