The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees has approved a new endowment named after President Trump, according to CBS News. The decision was made at a Thursday meeting of the board, which Trump chairs and is largely composed of his appointees.
The endowment is intended to address what a source described as the building’s “physical disrepair.” It will supplement existing private endowments and the center’s $257 million in federal funding. The Hill has sought comment from both the Kennedy Center and the White House.
This development follows a legal setback for the Trump administration over the center’s name. Over the weekend, workers removed Trump’s name from the exterior of the building, complying with a ruling from U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper. The judge, an appointee of former President Obama, sided with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio board member, who sued to block the renaming and a planned two-year closure for renovations.
Cooper ruled that only Congress—which originally dedicated the center to President John F. Kennedy—has the authority to change its name. He also found that the board’s vote to close the center for renovations was improper. The Trump administration confirmed compliance with the ruling in court documents filed Saturday, after receiving a 12-hour extension due to weather concerns.
The board voted in December to add Trump’s name to the center, which opened in 1971 as a monument to Kennedy. The president had previously removed the center’s leadership and appointed trustees who later nominated him as chair. The legal battle underscores ongoing tensions over the politicization of cultural institutions.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration faces scrutiny on multiple fronts, including over a preliminary Iran deal and its approach to international agreements. The new endowment at the Kennedy Center adds another layer to the administration’s cultural footprint.
