Judge Orders Trump’s Name Off Kennedy Center, Blocks Renovation

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled Friday that President Trump’s name must be removed from the Kennedy Center within two weeks. The judge found that the center’s board violated a 1964 federal law by renaming the building without congressional approval. The ruling also temporarily blocks Trump’s plan to close the center for two years of renovations and restores voting rights to ex officio board members who challenged the decision.

Why the Renaming Was Illegal

Judge Cooper concluded that Congress alone holds the power to change the Kennedy Center’s name. The 1964 statute establishing the center made clear it must be named for President Kennedy only. The board’s vote in December to add Trump’s name violated this law. Cooper wrote that the board “overstepped its statutory bounds” and that “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”

What Must Happen Now

Officials must remove Trump’s name from all building signage, websites, and official materials within two weeks. The center is permanently blocked from displaying any signage suggesting the building is named for anyone other than President Kennedy. Judge Cooper’s 94-page ruling was emphatic about the legal violation.

The Renovation Plan Is Halted

The judge also blocked Trump’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for two years starting in July for major renovations. Cooper said the board made an “ill-informed and seemingly preordained decision” based on insufficient information. The closure decision stemmed from advice by the center’s facilities chief, according to court testimony. The board must now conduct a full assessment before any closure decision.

Trump Steps Back From the Fight

Trump announced Friday he is ending his involvement with the Kennedy Center. He said he has no interest in continuing unless he is “free to do what I do better than anyone else.” Trump instructed the Department of Commerce to arrange a full transfer of the institution to Congress. Rep. Joyce Beatty, who filed the lawsuit, called the ruling “a victory for the rule of law.”

Final Thoughts

Judge Cooper’s ruling restores the Kennedy Center to its legal name and blocks a controversial closure plan. The decision affirms that Congress, not a board vote, controls the names of national memorials.

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