Kennedy Center board votes to defy federal judge, restore Trump's name

The Kennedy Center's board voted to restore President Trump's name on the building and close the venue for two years, the Associated Press reported on 13 August 2026, defying District Judge Christopher Cooper's order to remove the name within 14 days and blocking the planned two-year closure. The U.S. Department of Justice appealed the ruling on 20 August 2026. Litigation continues before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.