Court Forces Removal of Donald Trump's Name From Kennedy Center

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29, 2026, that the decision by the board of trustees to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the "Trump Kennedy Center" was unlawful. The ruling, following a lawsuit by Representative Joyce Beatty, stated that a 1964 federal statute mandates the venue be named for President John F. Kennedy and that only Congress possesses the authority to alter it. Judge Cooper further blocked a planned two-year, $257 million closure for renovations, describing the board's decision to shutter the facility as "ill-informed and seemingly preordained."

Following the ruling, the center began scrubbing the president's name from its website and official documents. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected emergency stay requests from the Department of Justice and the board, crews removed the physical signage from the building's facade on June 13 and 14. The process was partially obscured by large tarps, which critics and Democratic lawmakers termed a "literal coverup."

Donald Trump condemned the decision, calling Judge Cooper an "anti-Trump Hater" and alleging conflicts of interest involving the judge's wife. While Trump initially announced he would relinquish control of the institution to Congress, he later indicated he would remain chairman. In a parallel effort to recognize his contributions, the board established the "Trump Kennedy Center Fund" as an endowment. The center continues to evaluate partial or phased closure options for repairs as it remains under judicial scrutiny regarding its programming and public access.