A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump’s name removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling that the venue cannot be renamed without approval from Congress.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees overstepped its authority when it unilaterally renamed the building.
The ruling requires the Trump administration to remove physical signage bearing Trump’s name and eliminate official references to the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Cooper wrote that the law creating the Kennedy Center makes clear that the institution is named for President John F. Kennedy.
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He said Congress gave the center its name, and only Congress has the power to change it.
The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board.
Beatty praised the decision, arguing that the Kennedy Center belongs to the American people and should not be renamed for Trump without legal authority.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump’s name had been added to the venue last December after the board voted unanimously to rename it.
In February 2025, Trump was elected chairman of the Kennedy Center board after removing 18 trustees appointed by former President Joe Biden.
The Kennedy Center has been the subject of multiple legal fights, including disputes over its planned two-year closure for rehabilitation work.
Cooper previously denied a request from a preservation group to temporarily block that closure.
Both matters are expected to continue through litigation, and appeals are likely.
The ruling is a legal setback for Trump and the Kennedy Center board, but it may not be the final word if the administration challenges the decision.
For now, the court has made clear that the Kennedy Center’s official name cannot be changed by the board alone.
Why It Matters
The ruling limits the ability of a presidentially influenced board to rename a major national institution without congressional approval. It also reinforces that the Kennedy Center’s name was set by statute, meaning any formal change must go through Congress.
What Comes Next
The Trump administration or Kennedy Center board could appeal the ruling. In the meantime, the administration must remove Trump-related signage and official references unless a higher court intervenes.
A federal judge ruled that the Kennedy Center cannot be renamed without congressional approval and ordered Trump’s name removed from official materials.
🚨 BREAKING: Judge Orders Trump’s Name Removed from Kennedy Center
A federal judge has ruled that President Trump’s name must be taken off the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Judge Christopher Cooper determined that only Congress has the authority to… pic.twitter.com/j6Tl4lPxHO
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 29, 2026
