President Trump took over the Kennedy Center in his second term, removed staff, politicized programming, attempted to rename it after himself, and ultimately closed the building indefinitely when a court ruled only Congress could change its name, devastating a cultural institution designed to serve all Americans. Trump's misconception that the Kennedy Center was elitist and left-wing led him to transform a populist venue serving everyday Americans—including free performances and school field trips—into a political playground favoring conservative events like CPAC.