U.S. Court Prevents Renaming Kennedy Center After Trump
WASHINGTON: A federal judge on Friday halted the Trump administration's efforts to rebrand the Kennedy Center and shut down the historic venue for a two-year renovation project, ruling that the initiatives violated federal law.
Judge Rules Name Change Violates Federal Law
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that changing the institution's name to the "Trump-Kennedy Center" is illegal.
He emphasized that federal statutes explicitly require the performing arts center to serve as a memorial dedicated exclusively to President John F. Kennedy.
Board Criticized Over Planned Two-Year Shutdown
In addition to halting the name change, Judge Cooper overturned a decision made in March to completely close the venue for two years during upcoming construction.
While he noted that necessary building repairs may still proceed, he criticized the center's board for approving a full shutdown based on a "one-sided presentation of information."
Cooper stated that the board failed to properly evaluate how a prolonged closure would impact its legal obligations to provide public arts programming.
However, the judge left open the possibility that a future closure could be permitted if the board conducts a more thorough evaluation.
Trump's Personal Involvement in Redesign Detailed
The ruling marks a major setback for President Trump, who has taken a highly active, personal interest in the venue's overhaul.
Recent evidentiary hearings revealed that Trump had been directly involved in specific design choices for the campus, ranging from interior ballroom seating to exterior steel and columns.
Administration Defends Rebranding Ahead of Appeal
While representatives for the White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately comment on the decision, the center's vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, defended the rebranding.
Daravi expressed confidence that an appeals court would ultimately uphold the name change to recognize Trump's contributions, stating that the organization will pursue all legal options to restore the "Trump Kennedy Center" title.
Throughout the legal battle, government attorneys argued that the modification was merely an informal nickname.
Judge Cooper rejected this defense, pointing to official White House press statements that explicitly framed the change as a formal renaming.
The revised branding had already been physically added to the building's marble exterior late last year.
Lawsuit Filed by Board Member Safeguards Voting Power
The legal challenge was initiated by Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who holds an ex officio position on the center's board.
Beatty alleged that the administration's sweeping changes bypassed required board approvals, stripping members of their voting power and interfering with their legal mandate to maintain the presidential memorial.
Preservation Group Lawsuit Dismissed
In a separate ruling issued the same day, Judge Cooper dismissed a secondary lawsuit brought by an outside preservation group.
The group had sought to force the Kennedy Center to consult with external organizations before starting construction, but the judge determined that the current scope of the work described by executive director Matt Floca did not legally require outside intervention.
