A federal judge has blocked the Kennedy Center from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the iconic Washington performing arts venue, ruling the move was unlawful.
Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,” dealing a significant legal blow to the administration.
The judge ordered Trump’s name to be removed from the building’s facade and all associated signage within two weeks of his ruling.
Workers began the removal process in the early morning hours, taking down the letters spelling out the president’s name from the front of the historic venue.
The removal came after a day marked by legal maneuvers and thunderstorms, with the work proceeding quietly in the hours before dawn.
The Kennedy Center subsequently confirmed in a court filing that it had fully complied with the federal judge’s order across multiple platforms.
According to that filing, Trump’s name was removed not only from the building itself but also from the organisation’s website, staff email signatures, and official letterhead.
The board of the Kennedy Center was found to have violated the law when it added the president’s name to the venue, a finding central to Judge Cooper’s ruling.
Trump responded to the court order with visible frustration, stating he would turn the Kennedy Center over to Congress in response to the legal setback.
The president also suggested the venue might be forced to close entirely, citing public safety concerns as a potential justification for shuttering the centre.
The case has drawn widespread attention as a test of executive power and the boundaries of what a sitting president can direct an arts institution’s board to do.
Judge Cooper’s ruling reinforces the principle that the naming rights of federally chartered institutions rest with Congress rather than the executive branch.