Beatty accuses Trump of holding the Kennedy Center hostage as a court derails the board’s plans for the second time
‘You’re holding up the whole country.’
The battle over the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has hit another major legal wall. According to The Hill, a federal judge has officially blocked the board’s latest attempt to place Donald Trump’s name back on the building. This marks the second time U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper has stepped in to halt these efforts. The ruling arrived just as the board prepared for a meeting to discuss the future of the facility.
Judge Cooper made his stance clear in a 22-page opinion released Tuesday, September 15, 2026. He ruled that the board cannot move forward with renaming the campus or adding new inscriptions without receiving Congress’s blessing. The judge found that an August vote by the board to rename the site likely violated his own earlier injunction. He stated that the board resolution effectively bucks a federal court order and a statute that Congress previously enacted.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, who serves as an ex-officio board member, has been the primary voice challenging these actions. She did not hold back in her assessment of the situation. Beatty said, “The law is extremely clear: The John F. Kennedy Center is named for President Kennedy – and no one else.” She added that Trump is effectively holding the institution hostage until he can secure a spot for his name on the memorial.
Beatty described the ongoing legal struggle as breathtakingly unlawful and wrong
The conflict has deep roots in a decision made back in May. At that time, Judge Cooper ordered the removal of the president’s name from the facade. He concluded that the board, which is packed with Trump appointees, acted outside its authority. Only Congress possesses the power to change the name of the center.
Despite several attempts by the Justice Department to pause this order, the lettering was eventually stripped away in the early morning hours of June 13. A tarp was used to cover the area, hiding the change from the public. Following that removal, the board attempted a new strategy. They voted last month to include two specific inscriptions. These would read, “renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump” and “endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.”
The Justice Department has defended this move by arguing that the board is not trying to rename the institution. Instead, they claim this is a way to recognize the president’s fundraising role. They have gone as far as describing the president as the sole hope for the long-term survival of the center. Officials associated with the board have warned of dire consequences if these plans fail.
They suggest the Kennedy Center faces certain fiscal collapse without this recognition. There are claims that the center could be weeks away from an inability to meet payroll or fulfill maintenance contracts. A draft board resolution included in court filings suggests that without this recognition, it is unlikely the president will provide the necessary oversight for building renovations or lead a fiscal rescue.
The tension then spilled over into a virtual board meeting
The Associated Press reports that there were testy exchanges between the president and Rep. Beatty. During the discussion, Beatty reportedly referred to the president as someone who caused extreme harm. The president said Beatty was “incompetent” and “holding up everything.” She then accused him of holding up the entire country. White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated that those who oppose the move are simply putting America last.
The future of the venue now sits in a state of limbo. The board voted on Tuesday to close most of the iconic performing arts venue. While the president claimed on social media that the closure is necessary for safety repairs, he also noted that these repairs would only happen if the board is allowed to move forward with his name on the building. Congress has allocated $257 million for these repairs, but the legal requirement for congressional approval remains a hurdle.
There is also a growing concern that the facility could face demolition
Administration lawyers previously told the court that the building might need to be taken down if they cannot raise money through these recognition efforts. They suggested the structure could deteriorate into an unsafe state. Some have even proposed replacing it with a large outdoor amphitheater. This prospect has caused alarm, especially given the president’s previous actions, such as the demolition of the East Wing of the White House.
The fight is part of a larger trend in the current administration to reshape the capital. Other projects include plans for a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a golf course renovation along the Potomac River.
For now, the Kennedy Center remains at the center of this clash between legal mandates and the president’s desire for physical recognition at the site. The Justice Department has already appealed the latest ruling from Judge Cooper. As it stands, the building remains without the president’s name, and the institution faces an uncertain path forward.
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