Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons
Kennedy Center to Shut Down, Add Trump’s Name
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted Thursday to move forward with a full two-year closure to allow for major renovations. Some outdoor programming may continue during the shutdown period, though the bulk of the venue’s operations will be suspended.
The decision follows legal complications with an earlier attempt to close the facility. A federal judge had previously blocked a prior two-year closure proposal, prompting Kennedy Center management to present the board with three alternative approaches before Thursday’s vote.
Press Secretary Leavitt to Step Down
In a separate development from the White House, Karoline Leavitt — at 28 years old the youngest person ever to serve as press secretary — announced Wednesday that she will leave the Trump administration by the end of the month. President Trump publicly announced her departure.
Leavitt described the decision on social media as “bittersweet,” signaling her exit comes by personal choice rather than dismissal. Her tenure made her a prominent face of the administration’s communications operation since Trump’s second term began.
Attorney General Blanche Addresses DOJ Staff
Also Thursday, Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered his first formal speech to Justice Department staff in the agency’s Great Hall. The address marked a notable moment for an attorney general who came to the role following a high-profile legal career that included representing President Trump in federal proceedings.
Harvard Lawsuit Dismissed by Federal Judge
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed the Trump administration’s civil rights lawsuit against Harvard University. Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled that the cases cited in the complaint — which accused Harvard of ignoring harassment of Jewish students — were too scattered to establish a pattern of ongoing civil rights violations.
The lawsuit, filed in March, centered primarily on incidents during the 2023–24 academic year, with a handful of additional incidents from March 2025. The judge found the alleged incidents “too isolated and episodic” to constitute the kind of persistent violation required to sustain the legal claim.
The dismissal is a setback for the administration’s broader effort to pressure elite universities over campus antisemitism. The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive legal posture on multiple fronts, including executive actions currently before the Supreme Court.
U.S. Embassy Vandalized in Brazil
The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil was vandalized Thursday, with anti-American graffiti sprayed on the exterior wall in both Portuguese and English. The message, reading “The USA makes war and profits from death,” appeared to be connected to ongoing trade tensions between the two countries, as first reported by the Post Register.
Brazilian police detained one man in connection with the incident, though he was later released. The vandalism comes amid strained diplomatic relations — the Trump administration has placed elevated tariffs on certain Brazilian goods and revoked the credentials of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington.
USS Abraham Lincoln Sets Sea Endurance Record
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group marked a milestone this week, surpassing 240 consecutive days at sea — a record for uninterrupted deployment. The ship is currently in its ninth month of deployment, a stretch that reflects the sustained operational demands placed on U.S. naval forces under current global commitments.
What’s Next
The Kennedy Center closure timeline and renaming process will move forward following Thursday’s board vote, though legal challenges could again emerge given the earlier court intervention. The White House will need to identify a replacement for Leavitt before the end of the month.
The Harvard lawsuit dismissal could be appealed, and the administration’s posture toward universities and federal funding remains an active area of policy pressure. Meanwhile, U.S.-Brazil diplomatic tensions show no immediate sign of easing, with tariff disputes still unresolved. As broader economic signals shift, the administration’s trade enforcement stance will continue drawing international reaction.
About the Author
