US5 min(s) read
Published 15:50 03 Jun 2026 GMT
A federal judge has ordered that Donald Trump's name be removed from the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts within two weeks, after ruling that the renaming violated federal law.
House Republicans first proposed renaming the landmark last July, a move that was backed by the 79-year-old after he appointed himself chairman of the center and removed several existing board members.
Despite being heavily slammed by opponents, Trump's administration quietly added his name to the building's exterior, official website, and promotional materials.
The venue's title was changed to the "Trump Kennedy Center," while new lettering was added to the facade to read: "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
However, US District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on Friday (May 29) that the Trump-appointed board violated the law by making the change without congressional approval.
In Cooper's opinion, he wrote that the 1964 statute establishing the center made it "crystal clear" that the institution was to be named solely after President John F. Kennedy.
"Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it," the judge wrote.
Cooper said the board broke a 1964 law that says the center must remain named after the former president, who was assassinated in 1963.
The ruling orders Trump's board to "remove all physical signage on the Kennedy Centre building and grounds, including the front portico, that purports to rename the Kennedy Centre after President Trump or any other individual besides President Kennedy" within 14 days.
That includes, but is not "limited to the signage that currently reads 'The Donald J. Trump And' on the front of the Centre's main building," the judge added.
The renaming effort had already sparked controversy among board members.
Democratic board member and Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty claimed she was prevented from voting against the proposal despite White House officials later insisting the board had unanimously approved the change.
"Clearly, the Congress has a say in this. This centre, the Kennedy Centre, was created by Congress. I think it's important for us to know that this is just another attempt to evade the law and not let the people have a say," Beatty said, per PEOPLE.
Her account was later supported by JFK's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who alleged that "microphones were muted" during the meeting and that the vote was "NOT unanimous."
Following Cooper's ruling, Beatty celebrated the decision: "Today’s ruling rightly affirms that this administration’s efforts to rename and close the Centre have no basis in law," she told the outlet.
"The Kennedy Centre is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump."
"He has desecrated this sacred memorial for his own vanity."
The ruling also temporarily prevents the Trump-appointed board from shutting down the Kennedy Center for two years as part of a renovation project.
The president first announced the proposal during a cabinet meeting in March. "We're fixing up what was the Kennedy Centre. I was honoured when the board changed the name a little bit," he said.
"Actually, it shows that the Republicans and the Democrats, they worked together. It's really something. We work together," he added.
Trump had previously described the center, which opened in 1971, as "rusted, rotted, and rat and bug infested," cited by The Guardian.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the renovation plans, arguing that extensive repairs were needed.
"The structural integrity of the building, the deterioration issues with the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, the HVAC systems, needed massive repairs," Burgum said. "And President Trump was willing to get out, raise private funds, dedicate his time as a master builder to restore this building. And now, a judge says 'No'."
However, Cooper described the board's decision to close the venue as "ill-informed and seemingly preordained".
Roma Daravi, the center's vice president of public relations, said the board intends to fight the ruling.
"We remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy," she said, per BBC News.
Daravi added that the institution was "confident" an appeals court would "uphold the Board's will to recognise President Trump's historic contributions to our nation's cultural center".
Meanwhile, Burgum did not confirm whether the president's name would actually be removed before the deadline expires.
"I'm not sure if that's going to be appealed or not, but I think, you know, there's controversy on both sides of this about that ruling," he said.
Trump reacted angrily to the decision, posting lengthy messages on Truth Social attacking Judge Cooper and claiming it was impossible "for [him] to be treated fairly".
"Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of," he wrote.
The president later announced that he had "canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center, because a Highly Conflicted, Crooked Federal Judge."
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