A federal judge has blocked efforts by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ board to restore President Donald Trump’s name to the venue, following an earlier ruling ordering its removal from the building's facade. The board, whose members are mainly appointed by Trump, voted again to close the center for renovations due to financial concerns, with the closure set to be indefinite. Trump responded by stating the center will close immediately, and renovations will not start unless a higher court reverses the ruling to remove his name from the center's official title.

The conflict escalates as the Kennedy Center board announced plans to honor Trump by inscribing his name on the building as recognition for his role in the center's renovation, which a federal judge ruled violated a 1983 congressional statute restricting additional memorial designations at the facility. The judge emphasized that no memorials can be installed without Congress's approval and confirmed that the board’s decision contravened a May injunction. The Department of Justice has appealed the injunction to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that halting the board's actions may result in diminished donor support.

Opposition voices, including Rep. Joyce Beatty and Democracy Defenders Action, criticized Trump’s conduct and management of the center, alleging his primary interest lies in vanity rather than caring for the institution. Beatty condemned Trump’s attempts to rename the landmark and highlighted that the controversies have driven away donors and artists. Legal counsel representing Beatty indicated they will challenge the board’s decision to close the center again, asserting it serves to conceal ongoing mismanagement.

In his public statement, Trump insisted that $17 million of funds he raised have been deposited to maintain the center’s operations during this period. He also indicated that renovation would be halted unless courts overturn the ruling against reinstating his name, with potential appeals possibly reaching the Supreme Court. The extended dispute leaves the Kennedy Center’s future uncertain, caught between legal battles over its naming and the need for significant renovations.