Trump Says Kennedy Center Board Voted to Close Building, Ties Rebuild to Court Ruling

Trump Says Kennedy Center Board Voted to Close Building, Ties Rebuild to Court Ruling

Trump says the board approved an immediate closure for safety reasons but warns reconstruction cannot start until the D.C. Circuit rules on the venue's approved name, with DOJ set to seek an expedited appeal.

Richard Miniter
First Published: September 15, 2026, 3:10 PM ET

Donald J. Trump said the board of the Kennedy Center, the federally chartered performing arts venue on the Potomac River in Washington, voted almost unanimously to close the building immediately for safety reasons. Trump tied the venue’s reconstruction to a pending court fight over its name, warning the renovation would not happen if courts reject the board’s approved title. He said $17 million he raised now sits in the center’s account to keep it operating during the dispute.