Kennedy Center to Establish New Endowment in Trump's Name After Court Forces Name Change

June 14, 2026 / 8:05 PM EDT / CBS News

The Kennedy Center has created a new endowment in President Trump's name to support its existing private endowments and $257 million in federal funding.

The fund was established at a recent meeting of the performing arts center's board of trustees, with members voting unanimously to acknowledge the president's contributions. The Kennedy Center's board is chaired by Mr. Trump and largely consists of his allies.

Last month, a D.C. District Court judge ruled that the Kennedy Center's board acted unlawfully in adding the president's name and making plans for two years of closure and renovations. The ruling mandated Mr. Trump's name be removed from the building by June 12.

The board also voted to file an emergency appeal to stay the earlier ruling, and a Kennedy Center official told CBS News that the Trump Kennedy Center Fund is 'a landmark commitment to securing the future of the nation's preeminent performing arts institution and its enduring legacy of artistic excellence.'

A source with knowledge of the plans for the endowment suggested it will focus on the 'physical disrepair' of the building, an element the current board feels has been neglected in the past.

In the court filing last week, the administration argued that if it was required to revert back to its original name, it would be obligated to refund any donations made to The Trump Kennedy Center.

A statement from lawyers representing Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, who sued the administration over the name change and closure last year, called the administration's appeal an '11th hour gambit.'

A Kennedy Center official confirmed that Mr. Trump will retain his role as chairman of the board, and the center will remain a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the new fund in the president's name.

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