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Kennedy Center board votes to restore Trump name and approve renovations
The Kennedy Center board of trustees has voted to restore Donald Trump’s name to the Washington, D.C. performing arts complex through a new inscription. The proposed wording, “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump,” would appear beneath the building’s official name. Additionally, the board approved a plan to designate the surrounding grounds as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.”
These decisions come despite a previous ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the facade in May, stating that only Congress has the authority to change the institution’s name. Critics, including Representative Joyce Beatty, have characterized the move as a “transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling.”
The board also voted to proceed with a two-year closure of the center’s main building to facilitate a $250 million renovation project aimed at addressing infrastructure and safety needs. While the main building would close, the REACH facility is expected to remain open for limited programming. The White House defended the board's actions, stating that under President Trump’s leadership, the center is becoming a “premier global cultural institution.”
Entities
Christopher Cooper · Donald Trump · Joyce Beatty · Kennedy Center · United States Congress · White House
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] The board voted to close the main building for approximately two years to undergo renovations costing roughly $250 million. upolitics.com · www.myjoyonline.com · www.stheadline.com · www.mandatory.com · minuteman-militia.com · +4 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] The board voted to add the inscription ‘Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump’ beneath the building’s existing name. upolitics.com · www.digitalmusicnews.com · www.myjoyonline.com · www.stheadline.com · www.mandatory.com · +14 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The board approved a proposal to designate the plaza outside the center as ‘President Donald J. Trump Plaza.’ upolitics.com · www.digitalmusicnews.com · www.stheadline.com · www.mandatory.com · minuteman-militia.com · +10 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Representative Joyce Beatty described the board's moves as an attempt to evade the judge's order and circumvent federal statutes. upolitics.com · www.digitalmusicnews.com · www.myjoyonline.com · www.stheadline.com · www.mandatory.com · +5 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper previously ruled that the board lacked the authority to rename the institution without congressional approval. upolitics.com · www.digitalmusicnews.com · www.myjoyonline.com · www.stheadline.com · www.mandatory.com · +13 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The White House stated that under President Trump's leadership, the Kennedy Center is becoming a premier global cultural institution. www.myjoyonline.com · www.mandatory.com · ghanaguardian.com · www.rt.com