Kennedy Center Board Votes to Honor Trump with Plaza Renaming

The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees is pushing hard to rename the institution's grounds the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." This latest move arrives as the board finalizes plans for a massive overhaul, reports Fox News Digital. They also want an inscription on the building that reads "Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund," provided the fund hits a $100 million mark.

These developments were not previously public until now. The board voted Thursday to approve language crediting Trump with restoring and renovating America's cultural hub. They also greenlit a partial shutdown of the complex for construction work. A source familiar with the internal meetings noted that the resolution honoring Trump passed 20-3, while the measure allowing the temporary closure won 23-3.

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island and Representatives Joyce Beatty from Ohio and Rick Larsen from Washington cast their "no" votes on both measures. The official text calls for a plaque beneath the center's name stating, "The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump." Officials say this recognition follows the president securing $257 million in federal money to fix years of neglected repairs.

An independent analysis conducted under Judge Cooper's orders backed the partial closure plan. The center projects a $3.4 million surplus with this approach, contrasting sharply with a predicted $78 million deficit if they tried four years of rotating shutdowns instead. The renovation targets water leaks, broken electrical rooms, hundreds of failing points in the parking garage, and heavy soffit panels that have reached their end-of-life status and pose safety risks.

A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center told Fox News Digital that the board reaffirmed its commitment to responsible stewardship. With Chairman President Trump's support, they believe this historic revitalization will make the center a stronger home for artists and audiences for generations. Free Millennium Stage programs, film events, educational classes, and the JFK memorial exhibit will stay open at the REACH area during the construction phase. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform its 2026-2027 Classical Season at various venues across Washington, D.C., and nationwide.

Federal judges previously blocked an attempt to rename the center after Trump as well as an earlier closure proposal. White House spokeswoman Liz Huston issued a statement claiming that under President Trump's leadership, the Kennedy Center is becoming the finest cultural institution anywhere in the world. The JFK Library and Jack Schlossberg, who is Kennedy's grandson and has spoken out frequently about the center, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.