Judge Orders Removal of Trump’s Name From Kennedy Center

In a decisive 94‑page opinion, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that President Donald Trump’s name must be stripped from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The judge affirmed that the Kennedy Center was established by Congress as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy and that only Congress can alter its name.

The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio who serves as an ex‑officio member of the Board of Trustees. Beatty challenged the board’s December vote to rename the venue “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” arguing that the change violated the Center’s organic statute.

Judge Cooper wrote that the board’s unilateral decision to add Trump’s name “reflects far more than an innocuous nicknaming” and that the change repositions Kennedy’s name to second place. The court ordered the Center to remove all references to the Trump name from its title, façade, signage, website, and other official materials within 14 days, with a deadline of June 12.

In addition to the name change, the judge also blocked the board’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for a two‑year renovation that was scheduled to begin in July. Cooper found that the board had “failed to consider the full range of its statutory obligations” and that the closure decision was “ill‑informed and seemingly preordained.”

While the ruling does not prevent the Center from carrying out needed repairs, it allows the board to vote on a closure again only after a thorough and lawful review of the implications. The judge emphasized that the Center must remain open until a valid decision can be made, ensuring continuity of the venue’s cultural mission.

Trump reacted angrily to the decision, threatening to withdraw his support for the center and suggesting that control of the institution would be transferred to Congress. The White House has yet to respond formally to these remarks.

For the performing‑arts community, the ruling has significant implications. Several artists who had already canceled performances in protest of the board’s actions confirmed their cancellations, while ticket sales had already declined during the period of uncertainty.

Looking ahead, the Kennedy Center’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the order, arguing that the board’s actions were within its authority. The outcome of that appeal will determine whether the Trump name can be reinstated and whether the planned renovations can proceed under a different governance framework.

Regardless, the court’s decision serves as a reminder that public institutions established by federal law are subject to strict statutory limits. The composition and actions of governing boards must align with the legal framework that created the institutions they oversee.