Kennedy Center Board Claims Building May Be Demolished Without Trump's Name

The board overseeing the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, appointed by former President Donald Trump, informed a federal judge that the building may need to be demolished unless Trump's name is inscribed on it. This statement was made by Justice Department lawyers in a court filing submitted on August 25, 2026, to U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who is addressing an emergency motion filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), a board member seeking to halt the renaming. On August 13, the board voted to add the inscription "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump" to the building and to rename the grounds as "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." The filing indicated that without these changes, the center could deteriorate into an unsafe structure requiring demolition. The government's lawyers suggested that a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River could be a potential replacement, although they acknowledged it would not honor President John F. Kennedy adequately. The filing asserted that financial contributions to the center would cease without prominent recognition of Trump's efforts, leading to a decline in structural rehabilitation. Trump took control of the board in February 2025, replacing trustees appointed by Democrats and becoming chairman. In May, Judge Cooper ruled that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the Kennedy Center. The board's filing described the building as "structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe, and embarrassing to the Nation's Capital." Beatty characterized the board's actions as a significant act of defiance in her emergency motion. The board has agreed to refrain from further actions until September 8.