President Donald Trump invoked executive privilege on October 14, 2026, shielding documents from a lawsuit by Representative Joyce Beatty challenging his takeover of the Kennedy Center. Beatty's attorneys argue executive privilege cannot protect Trump's actions as board chairman of a non-profit entity. The Justice Department contends Trump's oversight is official because the president appoints board members. The clash follows court rulings blocking a planned two-year closure and ordering Trump's name off the building facade.
Invocation of executive privilege
- ▪White House Deputy Counsel Joshua Hoyt's October 14, 2026 court declaration in Representative Joyce Beatty's lawsuit stated President Donald Trump asserted executive privilege covering documents and discussions involving government and non-government advisers, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Kennedy Center staff
- ▪During an October 2026 deposition of Kennedy Center Executive Director Matthew Floca, a Justice Department lawyer instructed Floca not to answer questions regarding communications with Donald Trump
Legal arguments on executive privilege
- ▪Attorneys Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky, representing Representative Joyce Beatty, stated Donald Trump's executive privilege over the Kennedy Center board chairmanship is an improper cover-up, as the congressionally created non-profit does not exercise executive power
- ▪Justice Department attorneys argued that President Donald Trump's oversight of the Kennedy Center is an official presidential function because federal law grants the president authority to appoint its board members
Lawsuit over renaming and closure
- ▪U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued an order in May 2026 blocking the planned two-year closure of the Kennedy Center and ordering Donald Trump's name removed from the building's facade
- ▪Representative Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit in December 2025 against President Donald Trump challenging his attempts to add his name to the Kennedy Center and shutter the institution for renovations
Kennedy Center closure and demolition proposals
- ▪President Donald Trump directed the Kennedy Center to close for a planned two-year renovation, while suggesting the building could end up demolished if his administration did not receive recognition for repair efforts
- ▪President Donald Trump was photographed on Air Force One viewing a poster that appeared to state 'Kennedy Center Demolished.'
Kennedy Center physical status and closure
- ▪The Kennedy Center main building was temporarily closed on September 15, 2026, for emergency safety assessments, after the board of trustees voted to shutter the facility for renovations
- ▪Construction crews stripped Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center exterior in June 2026, and a tarp was subsequently placed over the Kennedy Center's front portico
Financial collapse at the institution
- ▪Following Donald Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center, the institution experienced a financial collapse marked by depleted cash reserves, declining pledges and donations, and plummeting ticket sales
- ▪American University arts management director Andrew Taylor stated that financial collapse at the Kennedy Center occurred because choices made by the Trump administration halted cash flow into the organization
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