The Kennedy Center's board voted to close until Trump's name is added. Here's a look at the history behind the landmark.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images The Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted to close the performing arts center on Tuesday. Trump renamed the center to the Trump Kennedy Center, then a federal judge ordered his name removed. Originally called the National Cultural Center, the name changed after Kennedy's 1963 assassination. The Trump-appointed board of the Kennedy Center voted to close the embattled performing arts center on Tuesday — the latest twist in the Trump administration's quest for control over the space. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the board voted to close the Kennedy Center "for Safety reasons, and so that it can begin the process of Reconstruction," adding that renovations would not begin until the DC Circuit rules on whether he can add his name to the institution. The board voted to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump Kennedy Center in December 2025, reflecting President Donald Trump's broader effort to exert influence over Washington's cultural institutions. It happened despite lingering questions about its legality. The new signage read "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." Trump's efforts to name the Kennedy Center after himself and close the performance space for renovations were subsequently blocked by a federal judge. Since the Kennedy Center was created by Congress, changing its name requires congressional approval, the judge ruled. The case is pending in the DC Circuit. "The Board's decision today reflects sound judgment and a clear prioritization of safety above all else," Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, told Business Insider. "As the main building closes for urgent renovations — long overdue and desperately needed to protect the safety of patrons, artists, and staff — the Center remains committed to pursuing a safe and efficient renovation through all legal means." Originally established by Congress in 1958 as an "artistic mecca" for the performing arts in the nation's capital, the National Cultural Center was officially renamed in memory of President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1963. Since its opening in 1971, the center has hosted the Kennedy Center Honors and a range of events and exhibits across genres. Here's a brief overview of how the Center came to be and its changes under Trump's leadership so far. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Cultural Center Act in 1958, establishing what would become the Kennedy Center. American architect Edward Durell Stone (1902 - 1978) (left) unveils a scale model of the proposed United States National Cultural Center (to be built in Washington) for an audience that includes Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994), Washington DC, 1962. Following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1964, the facility was renamed the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Christian Science Monitor/PhotoQuest/Getty Images Originally named the National Cultural Center, the act authorized construction of the building and established it as an independent institution with a mission to host arts and cultural events and educational programming. President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis led the $30 million fundraising campaign for its construction. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy at a fundraising event for the National Cultural Center in 1962. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Kennedy Onassis and Mamie Eisenhower served as honorary co-chairwomen of the project. After Kennedy's assassination, President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation renaming it the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill renaming the National Cultural Center the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and handed the pen to Edward Kennedy, the late president's brother. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images President Lyndon Johnson signed the John F. Kennedy Center Act in January 1964 to change the name and provide $23 million in federal funds for its construction. After signing the bill, Johnson handed the pen to Edward Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother. "As this center comes to reflect and advance the greatness of America, consider then those glories were purchased by a valiant leader who never swerved from duty — John Kennedy. And in his name I dedicate this site," Johnson said at the groundbreaking ceremony, held in December 1964. The Kennedy Center opened on September 8, 1971. 5/1/1971 - Washington, DC - ORIGINAL CAPTION READS: Exterior views of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The building is situated at river's edge and is surrounded by trees. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Designed by architect Edward Durell Stone, the Kennedy Center was built on the banks of the Potomac River using 3,700 tons of marble gifted to th