Trump seeks to rebrand Kennedy Center with new plaque after judge's ruling

Donald Trump is aggressively pursuing ways to embed his name and likeness into American institutions, a departure from political tradition. His latest effort involves the Kennedy Center in Washington, where a board, reportedly filled with his allies, voted to add a plaque to the building.

The proposed inscription reads: "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump." This decision comes after a federal judge blocked earlier attempts to place his name on the building's facade. The new plaque would reportedly be placed below the main inscription.

It remains unclear how this decision aligns with the May court order to remove Trump's name. The center's executive director had stated in June that all physical inscriptions bearing Trump's name had been removed, though a tarp has since covered the facade, raising questions about the extent of the changes.

The board also approved a two-year closure of the main building for renovations to its heating, cooling, electrical, and fire safety systems. A judge had previously blocked this plan but indicated it could be reconsidered after further review. The Kennedy Center has not yet commented on the board's latest decisions.

Trump's pursuit of institutional branding extends beyond the Kennedy Center. His image appears on limited-edition U.S. passports, and an airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, is now named after him. In Washington, the now-defunct U.S. Institute of Peace was also renamed in his honor.

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Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.