Washington: A US federal judge has ordered that President Donald Trump’s name be removed from the title of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, ruling that the venue cannot be renamed without approval from Congress.
In a decision issued, District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked plans to temporarily close the renowned arts institution for proposed renovations. The ruling requires Trump’s name to be removed from the centre’s official title, façade, digital platforms and all official materials within 14 days.
The decision marks a major setback for Trump’s efforts to reshape the cultural institution, which has been at the centre of controversy since he assumed greater control over its governance.
Court cites congressional authority
Judge Cooper stated that federal law establishing the Kennedy Centre makes clear that the institution is dedicated to the memory of former President John F. Kennedy and that its official name cannot be changed by the board alone.
Cooper wrote in his 94-page opinion, stating that, “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.”
The ruling means the venue will revert to its original name, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, which it has carried since opening in 1971 as a tribute to the assassinated president.
Trump vows to fight decision
The Kennedy Centre said it would appeal the ruling. Trump responded on Truth Social, saying he would work with Congress to restore the changes and criticizing the court’s decision.
Trump remarked that, “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’.”
Controversial renaming
Trump announced plans last year to add his name to the institution as part of broader rebranding initiatives in Washington.
In February 2025, he replaced several trustees, appointed himself to the board and was subsequently elected chairman. Later that year, the board approved renaming the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, with new signage installed shortly afterwards.
The move triggered criticism from artists and cultural groups, leading to several performance cancellations and declining ticket sales.
Lawsuit challenged governance changes
The legal challenge was brought by board member and Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, along with former trustees who argued they had been improperly stripped of their voting rights. The plaintiffs later expanded the lawsuit to challenge Trump’s plans to close the venue for two years beginning July 4, 2026, for extensive renovations.
Beatty stated that, “Today’s ruling rightly affirms that this administration’s efforts to rename and close the Center have no basis in law. The Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump.”
Renovation plans under review
Kennedy Centre spokesperson Roma Daravi said the institution remains confident that an appeals court will reverse the ruling and uphold the board’s decision to honour Trump’s contributions.
Daravi also defended the proposed renovation project, noting that Congress had approved $257 million for restoration work. The legal battle is expected to continue in the appellate courts, keeping the future identity and management of one of America’s most prominent cultural institutions under intense public scrutiny.
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