A US federal judge on Friday ordered President Donald Trump’s name removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and blocked plans to temporarily close the venue for years of renovations, ruling that the institution’s board exceeded its legal authority in both cases.U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered officials to remove all signs bearing Trump’s name within 14 days and remove references to Trump “Trump Kennedy Center” or “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” From official materials.In a 94-page opinion, Cooper concluded that the Kennedy Center board did just that “It exceeded its legal limits” By unilaterally adding Trump’s name to the institution.
The judge said that it was the law establishing the center that made it “Crystal clear” That it will be named after former President John F. Kennedy and cannot bear any other official name or public memorial depends solely on the decision of the Board of Directors.“Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.” Cooper wrote. It also permanently prohibits the foundation from displaying, installing or maintaining physical or digital signage indicating that it bears the name of anyone other than Kennedy.
Cooper also ruled that the board’s March 16 vote to close the center for a long-term renovation was valid “Apparently uninformed and incapable,” Finding no evidence that the trustees have given adequate thought to how the trust will continue to meet its legal obligations during a prolonged period of closure. While he allowed renovations to continue, the judge said any future closure must take into account the Kennedy Center’s full legislative mandate.Trump criticized the ruling in a lengthy post on social media, describing it as… “Shockingly” Flawed He accuses Judge Christopher Cooper, whom he described as an appointee of former President Barack Obama, of blocking much-needed renovations at a facility he described as suffering from years of deterioration. “Neglect, decay and poor maintenance.” Trump said the closure was necessary to carry out extensive construction work, and said the Kennedy Center’s board of directors voted unanimously to add his name to the institution.
He further claimed that the Center had lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the years and was accused “Radical left Democrats” More concerned with opposing it than preserving the place of the performing arts. Trump described the building as structurally unsafe, and said that experts had warned about it “rotting packages,” Possible parking structure failure and other safety concerns, but this judge was not “wobble.
” “Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself,” Trump wrote, adding that he directed the Department of Commerce to work with Congress to transfer responsibility for the operation, maintenance and management of the institution.
This follows the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees’ decision in December 2025 to rename the venue “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The move sparked opposition from lawmakers, historians and Kennedy family members, who argued that only Congress had the authority to change the name of a congressionally established memorial.Trump first announced, in February of this year, plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations, after which the board formally approved the proposal in a unanimous vote on March 16, with the closure following July 4 celebrations.