Federal judge Christopher Cooper in Washington stated on 29/5 that the court concluded the board of trustees exceeded its statutory authority by unilaterally renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump.
Judge Cooper's ruling emphasized that only the US Congress has the authority to rename the center, giving the Trump administration 14 days to remove the president's name from the building's facade and all related documents for the venue.
According to the ruling, "Congress named the Kennedy Center and only Congress can change it."
Judge Cooper also issued a temporary injunction against President Trump's request to close the Kennedy Center for two years for renovations. This plan was expected to begin in July.
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The Trump Kennedy Center for the performing arts in Washington on 29/5. Photo: AP |
President Trump harshly criticized Judge Cooper, declaring he no longer wanted any involvement with the venue, which he described as "dying."
“We will work with Congress to hand over this failing facility to them, so they can decide what to do with it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If I am not comfortable doing what I do better than anyone else—restoring this facility physically, financially, and artistically—then I have no interest in continuing a hopeless journey to 'utopia'.”
The arts complex in downtown Washington was originally named the National Cultural Center, initiated in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and fully funded during Kennedy's tenure. Two months after Kennedy's assassination in 11/1963, President Lyndon Johnson renamed the complex the John F. Kennedy Center.
The White House announced in 12/2025 that the Kennedy Center's board of trustees unanimously voted to rename the venue the Trump - Kennedy Center, acknowledging President Trump's "extraordinary efforts" to "save the building not only in design, but also financially and reputationally." Trump's name was subsequently affixed to the building's facade, above the word Kennedy.
The president announced in February that the center would close for two years starting 4/7 for renovations to transform the venue "into the best performing arts facility."
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US President Donald Trump at the White House on 27/5. Photo: AP |
Since returning to office in 1/2025, President Trump has repeatedly sought to integrate his name and image into public spaces, marking a significant departure from longstanding political tradition in the US.
The president's image appeared on giant banners outside the Department of Justice and the US Department of Agriculture. The Trump administration is also advancing plans to feature his portrait on a 250 USD banknote to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)
