Kennedy Center Faces Bankruptcy and Closure in Days

The Washington Post reported that officials at the Kennedy Center, who sought to add the name of U.S. President Donald Trump to the prestigious cultural institution, warn the center faces imminent bankruptcy and possible closure within days.

According to documents obtained by the newspaper, the center's board of directors, dedicated to the arts in Washington, is expected to vote on Tuesday on the possibility of closing its main building due to financial difficulties and safety issues requiring renovation, according to AFP.

Officials warned in the documents that the center "may not be able to pay salaries or meet routine maintenance contracts" within weeks.

In a 57-page report, officials argued that publicly honoring Trump at the center could secure essential funding and ensure its survival.

The documents state that "directors are asked to choose from ten texts to be placed on the exterior façade of the building under his name," as public acknowledgment of Trump’s role in the restoration.

Shortly after returning to the White House at the start of 2025, Trump appointed allies to the center’s board and named himself chairman.

In December, the center’s board voted to rename it the "Trump-Kennedy Center," adding the Republican president’s name in large gold letters above the name Kennedy.

However, a U.S. judge ruled on May 29 that changing the center’s name and adding Trump’s name was illegal, ordering the board to remove any reference to Trump from the building and its website.

The board complied with the court order but voted on August 13 that Trump’s name must still be displayed on the building’s façade, citing his contributions to the restoration.

The judge also temporarily halted Trump’s mandated renovation work, stating the board failed to consider the negative consequences of closing the site.

Following the ruling, Trump announced he would step back from overseeing the center.

Many artists canceled concerts at the center in protest of Trump’s dominance, while American media reported ticket sales had dropped to their lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The Washington Post noted the center expects to raise about $124 million out of a projected $220 million in revenue outlined in its budget, "leaving a shortfall of approximately $23 million even after significantly cutting expenses" during the previous fiscal year.

In addition, the building suffered damage from a severe storm that hit the region earlier this month, compounding other necessary repair work.

The Kennedy Center declined to comment on the report and referred AFP to a recent statement issued by its spokesperson, Roma Daravi, which blamed the previous administration for "decades of neglect and deferred maintenance."

A spokesperson for AFP, who requested anonymity, said "adding President Trump’s name to the building attracted new donors and was essential to raising additional funds for the center’s restoration."