The board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has approved a resolution to restore former President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade, according to a court filing submitted Wednesday. The decision follows a legal reversal after a federal judge ruled last month that the board had acted unlawfully when it initially placed Trump’s name on the structure in 2024.
At the White House, construction crews are advancing a $90 million project to build a new East Wing ballroom and visitor screening center, replacing the historic East Wing demolished in October 2025. The 90,000-square-foot facility is designed to accommodate up to 1,000 guests and includes reinforced steel, electrical conduit, and round-the-clock labor by more than 200 workers.
Kennedy Center developments
The Kennedy Center’s board, chaired by Trump and composed largely of his administration allies, voted last week to reinstate Trump’s name on the front portico. The decision comes two months after U.S. District Judge Chris Cooper ordered the removal of Trump’s name, which had been affixed to the facade in 2024. Crews removed the inscription overnight on June 13, and the area has since been covered by a tarp. The board’s resolution specifies that the front inscription will now read: “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Honoring Donald J. Trump.”
Court documents indicate the Kennedy Center’s board is also pursuing additional honors for Trump, though specific details have not been disclosed. The center remains partially obscured by construction barriers as renovations continue.
White House ballroom construction accelerates
The White House ballroom project involves millions of pounds of steel and rebar, along with extensive electrical and plumbing infrastructure. Federal records describe the effort as one of the most ambitious renovations to the executive mansion in decades, with funding drawn from a mix of federal appropriations and private donations. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027, according to administration officials.
Legal and preservation disputes
The renovations have drawn legal challenges from preservation groups and congressional Democrats, who argue the projects violate federal historic preservation laws. Opponents contend the White House ballroom expansion exceeds the scope of previous renovations and that the Kennedy Center’s naming decision disregards a federal judge’s ruling. Supporters, including administration officials, frame the projects as necessary upgrades to restore Washington’s “beauty and grandeur.”
The Kennedy Center’s board has not publicly commented on the timeline for reinstalling Trump’s name, though construction crews have begun preparing the facade for the new inscription. The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the ballroom project’s progress or funding sources.