US judge orders Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center within 2 weeks
Synopsis
A federal judge has struck down the Trump-era renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center, ruling that only Congress — not the board — can change its name. The same ruling blocks a planned two-year closure, delivering a significant legal setback to Trump's sweeping takeover of the iconic Washington arts institution.
Key Takeaways
Judge Christopher Cooper of the Federal District Court in Washington ruled the renaming of the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump unlawful.
The board has been ordered to remove Trump's name within two weeks .
The court also temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to shut the centre for two years beginning July 2025 .
In December 2024 , the board voted to rename the venue 'The Donald J.
Trump and The John F.
Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' — drawing widespread criticism and artist boycotts.
The judge ruled that Congress alone holds the authority to change the centre's name, as it was legislatively designated the sole national memorial to President John F.
Capital repair work at the centre may still proceed under the preliminary injunction.
A US district judge has ruled that renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump was unlawful, ordering the addition removed within two weeks. The ruling, issued by Judge Christopher Cooper of the Federal District Court in Washington, also temporarily blocks the Trump administration from shutting down the storied cultural institution for two years.
What the Court Ruled
Judge Cooper held that the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees had overstepped its authority by unilaterally renaming the venue. The judge was unequivocal in his reasoning: Congress, not the board, holds the exclusive power to alter the center's name.
'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. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,' Cooper wrote.
The Renaming and Its Fallout
In December 2024, the board voted to rename the venue 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' — a decision that drew widespread criticism from the public, political leaders, and the arts community. A number of prominent artists subsequently cancelled performances at the centre in protest.
Congress had originally designated the Kennedy Center as the 'sole national memorial' to the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, within Washington and its environs — a mandate the court found the board's unilateral action directly violated.
Closure Plan Also Blocked
Beyond the renaming, Judge Cooper also issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's plan to halt entertainment operations. In February 2025, Trump had announced the centre would suspend performances for roughly two years beginning in July to facilitate construction work.
The judge found that the board's closure decision rested on 'an insufficient, one-sided presentation of information' that 'neglected to consider the full range of its statutory obligations and potential adverse consequences of closure on programming and memorial functions.'
Notably, the injunction does not prevent the centre from proceeding with planned capital repair work, which the court acknowledged is 'sorely needed.' The board may also revisit a closure decision if it independently and prudently weighs all its obligations.
Trump's Role at the Kennedy Center
Since beginning his second term, Trump has taken an unusually active role at the institution — ousting its previous leadership and installing himself as board chair. The Kennedy Center is widely regarded as the United States' national cultural centre, hosting world-class performances in music, opera, drama, dance, and other performing arts.
The ruling sets up a potential constitutional confrontation over executive authority and the limits of board governance at federally chartered institutions. Legal observers expect the administration to appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the judge order Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center?
Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees had no authority to unilaterally rename the venue. Congress had legislatively designated the centre as the sole national memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and the court held that only Congress can alter that name.
What was the Kennedy Center renamed to?
In December 2024, the board voted to rename it 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.' The renaming drew widespread criticism from the public, politicians, and artists, several of whom cancelled scheduled performances.
What happens to the planned closure of the Kennedy Center?
Judge Cooper issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's plan to halt entertainment operations for roughly two years beginning July 2025. However, the injunction does not prevent planned capital repair work from going ahead.
What role has Trump played at the Kennedy Center?
Since beginning his second term, Trump ousted the centre's previous leadership and installed himself as board chair, giving him direct control over the institution's governance and programming decisions.
Can the Kennedy Center still be renamed or closed in the future?
The court left open the possibility that the board could revisit a closure decision if it properly weighs all its statutory obligations. On renaming, the ruling makes clear that a formal name change would require an act of Congress, not a board resolution.
