A federal judge has ruled that the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include Donald Trump’s name was unlawful and must be reversed within two weeks.
The Renaming Controversy
In 2025, a new board appointed by Donald Trump renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to incorporate the president’s name, featuring it in gold letters on the building’s facade. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, citing the president’s alleged efforts to save the facility.
President Trump described the 1971 structure as dilapidated and in poor financial and structural condition. Consequently, he announced in February that the center would close on July 4, 2026—the 250th anniversary of the United States—for renovations.
Legal Ruling on Nomenclature
Judge Christopher Cooper ruled the name change illegal, noting that the center’s original title is codified in an Act of Congress. He decreed that the president’s name must be removed from the building’s exterior within two weeks. Additionally, the judge granted a request by Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty to temporarily halt plans to close the venue for a two-year renovation.
Trump’s Reaction to the Verdict
President Trump denounced the decision as “shocking” and stated that the judge “should be ashamed.” He threatened to transfer control of the facility to Congress, declaring that if he cannot restore the institution physically, financially, and artistically, he has no interest in continuing the project.
