Kennedy Center board votes again to renovate building and inscribe Trump’s name on it – report

The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington has reportedly voted once more to proceed with Donald Trump's contentious plan to temporarily shutter the main building for extensive renovations. The plan also includes inscribing the former president's name on the building's facade, despite a federal court order mandating its removal.

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to close the Kennedy Center’s main building, while keeping a newer addition to the campus, known as the Reach, open for limited programming and to operate as an active memorial to John F Kennedy

According to reports, the board, largely composed of Trump's allies, voted to close the main building while keeping a newer addition, known as the Reach, open for limited programming. This action is intended to operate as an active memorial to John F. Kennedy. Following this, the board also reportedly voted to add an inscription beneath the institution's name that reads: "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J Trump."

These decisions are subject to approval by a U.S. federal judge. The move directly challenges a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ordered Trump's name removed from the facade, deeming its addition illegal as only Congress holds the authority to alter the institution's name. Although the center removed the name in June, it is currently appealing the decision.

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Restored and Renovated by President Donald J Trump.

Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and a member of the board, confirmed the outcome and criticized the board's actions. "This latest development is a transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed," Beatty stated. "I will continue to fight for this treasured national monument."

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This latest development is a transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed.

Judge Cooper had previously issued a temporary block on Trump's demand to close the arts institution for two years of renovations, which had been scheduled to begin in July. Cooper had cited the decision to halt operations as "ill-informed and seemingly preordained," ruling that the board had based its decision on insufficient information and neglected its statutory obligations and potential adverse consequences.

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I will continue to fight for this treasured national monument.