Justice Department lawyers now claim the Kennedy Center faces collapse unless President Donald Trump spearheads its renovation and receives naming rights. The government filed court papers arguing the venue’s structural and financial future depends entirely on Trump’s involvement.
Donald Trump’s administration makes bizarre comments on the Kennedy Center
The filing comes as U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper prepares to hear arguments on whether Donald Trump’s name should permanently remain on the Kennedy Center. Cooper previously ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the facade and temporarily blocked the venue from closing during construction.
Now, government lawyers described the Kennedy Center in stark terms. They called it “decrepit, dilapidated, crumbling” and insisted the building “cannot be saved” without Trump’s support. The attorneys argued that Trump’s fundraising push targeting more than $100 million remains essential to complete the renovation project.
Congress has already approved $257 million for the work. But Justice Department lawyers contend that money alone won’t finish the job. They pointed to Trump’s ability to raise additional funds as the deciding factor between restoration and demolition. The filing singled out Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who serves on the board and opposes having Trump’s name on the building. Government lawyers suggested she should accept the naming arrangement rather than watch the center crumble. They wrote that without Trump’s efforts, the structure would deteriorate into an unsafe shell requiring demolition.
The board voted on August 13 to close the Kennedy Centre for two years rather than pursue partial closures over four years. The shorter timeline costs $285 million, while the extended schedule would reach $580 million. Board members also approved renaming the building to “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.” If fundraising hits $100 million, the facade would add “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.” The grounds beneath the venue would become “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.”
Beatty fired back in her own filing. She called the renaming resolution “a breathtaking act of defiance” and accused the board of directly flouting the court’s earlier prohibition on using the term “Trump Kennedy Center.” Judge Cooper will now decide whether Trump’s name stays on the building permanently (via USA Today).
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.com.
