Trump defends bid to put his name on the Kennedy Center

President Donald Trump on Friday defended his push to put his name on the Kennedy Center, saying he deserves to be recognized for trying to save Washington's premier performing arts venue after his takeover was blamed for triggering its financial distress.

Trump did not directly respond when a reporter asked whether he planned to demolish the theater, as he's threatened to do, but said “the place is a dump” and he would “do a better job building it than anybody else.”

He said the Kennedy Center would require an ongoing subsidy to stay open and suggested it would be his burden to raise money to fill that gap.

“Why should I do everything and then for the rest of my life, have to go out and raise money?” Trump said.

He said only he could have secured the $257 million that Congress has approved for Kennedy Center repairs.

“I think the Trump administration should be recognized as having saved the Kennedy Center because nobody else could do it,” he added, repeating a comment he made days earlier while campaigning in North Carolina.

The Kennedy Center board, which is aligned with the president, voted Tuesday to close the center indefinitely for repairs hours after a judge blocked their plans to return Trump's name to the building. On Thursday, the judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it.

Trump on Friday called U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper “a very hostile judge."

He spoke in the Oval Office during a health care event as his Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., looked on. The venue was designated by Congress as a memorial for the secretary's uncle, President John F. Kennedy.

“I should be very careful because Bobby is standing right behind me," Trump said. “And I cherish that, too. I actually like the name of Kennedy and Trump, Trump and Kennedy, because it showed bipartisanship. It showed a Republican Party and a Democrat party working together.”

A wave of artists have canceled their Kennedy Center appearances in that past year after the Trump-loyal board added his name to the building's facade, renaming it The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

Cooper ruled that Trump's name was illegally added and ordered it removed.

A sign directs people away from the Kennedy Center, which has been fenced off and closed to the public, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Security patrols the Kennedy Center, which has been fenced off and closed to the public, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Donald Trump speaks as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, and Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, listen during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

FILE - Visitors walk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Nov. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich star Harry Kane scored twice on a historic night, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the Bundesliga as his team thrashed Union Berlin 7-0 on Friday.

In England, Chelsea was handed a 3-0 drubbing by London rival Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho all scored in the second half as Brentford climbed to third in the Premier League with nine points from five games. Co-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City are three points ahead and play on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

“Disappointed with the second half, disappointed with the result,” Chelsea manager Alonso said. “This is not how to compete in the Premier League. We were punished. At the moment we are not being consistent enough to compete during the whole game, 45 minutes is not enough, you need to compete for the whole game."

England striker Kane, 33, achieved his milestone by converting a 39th-minute penalty to extend Bayern’s lead to 3–0 before halftime. Jamal Musiala had opened the scoring in the 18th, while Michael Olise added another in the 43rd.

Kane struck again in the 54th, bringing his total to 101 goals in 99 matches. The previous record for the fastest to a century was set at 123 games by Dieter Müller, a prolific striker for Cologne in the 1970s.

Olise then completed a hat-trick in the 73rd and 76th. Ismael Saibari was also on target.

“Very proud, to be honest, to reach 100 goals in the Bundesliga,” Kane said. “Obviously, I’ve done it in the Premier League, so now to have it in a different league is something I’m really proud of. All I can say is a big thanks to the team.”

On average, Kane has found the net once every 78.3 minutes since his arrival in Germany in 2023, surpassing the likes of Erling Haaland (87 minutes), Robert Lewandowski (100) and Gerd Müller (105).

Following two unconvincing Bundesliga performances against promoted teams, a goalless draw with Schalke and a 2–1 win over Elversberg, the victory gave leader Bayern 10 points through four matches. It is one point ahead of Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund, who both have a game in hand.

In France, Monaco continued its impressive start to the season under new coach Filipe Luis, defeating Lens 2–1 to remain unbeaten at the top of Ligue 1.

Paris Brunner put Monaco ahead in the 32nd, but Matthieu Udol equalized in the 57th. Jonathan Gradit then scored an own goal in the 84th.

Brunner is still awaiting a likely sanction for a throat-slitting gesture during a goal celebration last weekend.

Lens coach Dino Toppmöller was dismissed in the week after just six games in charge.

In Italy, Gustavo Varela scored twice as Monza pulled off an upset by beating Sassuolo 2–1 to secure its first Serie A win of the season.

Varela found the net in the 51st and 63rd for the Biancorossi, who had lost three of their opening four matches.

Vasilije Adžić pulled a goal back for Sassuolo in the 88th, but it was a disappointing night for a side coming off a 3–2 victory over Juventus.

In Spain, Elche recovered from the early sending-off of Federico Redondo to climb off the foot of the table with a 3-1 win at Espanyol.

Fer Nino scored twice for Elche and Germán Valera also struck. Espanyol replied with an own goal from Víctor Chust.

Elche is now fourth-bottom while Espanyol is ninth.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Patrick Cutrone of AC Monza fights for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and Sassuolo FC the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, north Italy, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (Tiziano Ballabio /LaPresse via AP)

Ricardo Mangas of AC Monza kicks the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and Sassuolo FC the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, north Italy, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (Tiziano Ballabio /LaPresse via AP)

Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Michael Olise celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane scores his side's second goal by a penalty during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)