A federal judge on Friday ordered the removal of Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling that the prestigious Washington DC venue cannot be renamed without an act of Congress.
Judge's Ruling
US District Judge Christopher Cooper directed the Trump administration to take down all physical signage bearing Trump's name and to eliminate any references to a "Trump Kennedy Center" from official materials within 14 days. In a 94-page opinion, Cooper wrote: "The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board's unilateral say-so." He added: "Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it." The judge concluded that the Board of Trustees overstepped its statutory bounds by unilaterally renaming the center after President Trump.
Trump's Response
Shortly after the ruling, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he would work with Congress to transfer ownership of the Kennedy Center. "I have instructed the Department of Commerce to make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution, giving them the responsibility for its Operation, Maintenance, and Management," he wrote. Trump also touted his vision for renovations, adding: "Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into 'NEVER NEVER LAND.'"
Closure Blocked
Cooper also temporarily blocked the center from closing this summer for proposed renovations, two months after Trump announced a two-year closure. He stated that the Board was "derelict in discharging the full range of its responsibilities" and based its decision on "an insufficient, one-sided presentation of information." The judge called the decision to halt operations "ill-informed and seemingly preordained."
Lawsuit and Reactions
The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), a member of the Kennedy Center's board by virtue of her position in Congress. "Today's ruling rightly affirms that this administration's efforts to rename and close the Center have no basis in law," Beatty said. "The Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump. He has desecrated this sacred memorial for his own vanity."
Background
Shortly after taking office last year, Trump appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees in February, calling it a "take-over." He purged the board and replaced members with his own appointees. In December, the board voted to add Trump's name, culminating an aggressive effort to remake Washington's arts institutions. John F. Kennedy's grandnephew, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, stated that the name could not legally be changed, comparing it to renaming the Lincoln Memorial. The move led to cancellations by artists and groups, including the musical Hamilton, and the departure of the National Symphony Orchestra's executive director.
Broader Context
The Kennedy Center, which receives federal funding, has long enjoyed bipartisan support but has become an extension of the White House's cultural agenda under Trump. Trump hosted the World Cup draw, the Kennedy Center Honors, and a documentary about Melania Trump there. His other plans for Washington include a "Victory arch" and a ballroom, which also face legal challenges. House Republicans have proposed renaming the Opera House after Melania Trump and ordered a review of the Smithsonian Institution.
