Trump's Actions Raise Concerns Over Kennedy Center's Finances
WHO:
Alternet - Geraldo Rivera, media personality and longtime friend of Trump, urged him to stop his actions regarding the Kennedy Center.
Alternet - Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), a Kennedy Center trustee, is involved in a lawsuit to keep Trump’s name off the building.
Alternet - Mary Trump, psychologist and Trump’s niece, expressed concerns about Trump’s actions.
WHAT:
Alternet - Trump’s name was initially mounted on the Kennedy Center building but was removed in June following a federal judge's ruling against it in May.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center's program revenue declined by $16 million and pledges and grants declined by $30 million in the seven months after Trump began his involvement.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center's budget would have been in the red without untapped Congressional appropriations of $257 million as part of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.
Alternet - As of September 30, 2025, roughly $330 million in federal appropriations were being held by the U.S. Treasury, including $310 million for capital repair and restoration and $20 million for operations and management.
Zeteo - Trump was photographed on Air Force One looking at a poster board headlined ‘Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED.’
Alternet - Trump has prioritized having his name added to the Kennedy Center building during his second term.
Alternet - A federal judge ruled against Trump’s attempt to rename the Kennedy Center, stating that memorials cannot be installed without Congress' approval.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center board announced it would close following the judge's decision.
Alternet - Trump was photographed with a sign indicating the center's demolition.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center had record net assets of $778 million as of September 30, 2025.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center reported $517 million in revenue last year and $210 million in revenue after expenses.
Alternet - The facility listed $48 million in “bad debt expense” in its tax return.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center made a $40 million profit in 2024 before Trump's involvement.
WHERE:
Alternet - The Kennedy Center is located in Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
Alternet - A federal judge blocked the renaming of the building and the plans to rename the campus on a Tuesday.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center's tax return was filed just last month, referring to the year 2025.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center's financial issues began approximately seven months after Trump started his involvement.
WHY:
Alternet - Trump claims the Kennedy Center is financially troubled and argues that he is capable of fixing it.
Alternet - Rivera warned Trump that his actions would not bring him the honor he seeks, suggesting they stem from spite.
HOW:
Alternet - Trump attempted to replace the name of the Kennedy Center under various pretexts after a federal judge ruled against him.
Alternet - Trump threatened to demolish the Kennedy Center if his name was not added, leading to a judge ordering a 30-day notice before any demolition.
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 23:00 UTC)
Trump's name was initially displayed on the Kennedy Center building but was removed in June following a federal judge's ruling against it in May. In the seven months after Trump became involved, the Kennedy Center saw a decline in program revenue by $16 million and a drop in pledges and grants by $30 million, leading to a budget that would have been in the red without $257 million in untapped Congressional appropriations from Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. Additionally, as of September 30, 2025, approximately $330 million in federal appropriations, including $310 million earmarked for capital repair and restoration, were being held by the U.S. Treasury.
--
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 21:03 UTC)
Trump is facing significant backlash over his efforts to have his name added to the Kennedy Center, with media personality Geraldo Rivera urging him to reconsider his actions and Rep. Joyce Beatty, a trustee of the center, involved in a lawsuit to keep Trump's name off the building. A federal judge recently ruled against Trump's renaming attempt, stating that such memorials require Congressional approval, which led the Kennedy Center board to announce its closure following the decision. Amidst this turmoil, Trump was photographed with a sign indicating the center's demolition, despite the facility reporting record net assets of $778 million and a $40 million profit in 2024 before his involvement.