US Judge Refuses To Halt Removal Of Trump's Name From Kennedy Center

Last Updated:June 13, 2026, 05:02 IST

US District Judge Christopher Cooper denied a request to pause his earlier ruling that ordered Trump's name removed from the building.

A federal judge rejected an effort by the Kennedy Center’s board and the Justice Department to block the removal of US President Donald Trump’s name from the iconic performing arts venue, setting the stage for the administration to comply with a court order declaring the renaming unlawful.

US District Judge Christopher Cooper denied a request to pause his earlier ruling that ordered Trump’s name removed from the building and all associated materials by Friday.

“The public interest is rarely served by the perpetuation of unlawful governmental action," Cooper wrote in his decision rejecting the request. The ruling marks the latest development in a legal battle over the naming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which was renamed the “Trump Kennedy Center" by a board stacked with Trump allies after the president returned to office.

Judge Says Renaming Was Illegal

In a May 29 ruling, Cooper found that the decision to rename the venue violated federal law, concluding that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the national cultural institution.

The judge ordered the administration to remove Trump’s name from the building’s marble facade within 14 days and eliminate references to the renamed venue from official materials. Earlier this week, the Kennedy Center removed Trump’s name from its website in compliance with the order.

Appeals Continue

The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and the Justice Department filed an appeal Thursday seeking to delay implementation of Cooper’s ruling while the case moves through higher courts. After Cooper denied that request on Friday, the administration and the board filed an emergency appeal with a higher court in a last-ditch effort to stop the removal. That appeal remained pending Friday evening.

Workers began erecting scaffolding around portions of the building bearing Trump’s name after the court ruling, although the signage had not yet been removed by late afternoon.

Renovation Plan Also Blocked

Cooper also temporarily blocked a separate effort by Trump to shut down the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations beginning in July. The closure proposal had sparked criticism from artists and cultural organizations who argued it would severely disrupt performances and programming at one of the nation’s premier arts institutions.

Trump Seized Control Of Venue

The dispute stems from actions taken shortly after Trump began his second term. The US President moved to take control of the Kennedy Center by appointing allies to its governing board and naming himself chairman. In December, the newly constituted board voted to rename the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center" and large letters bearing the US President’s name were installed on the building above the existing Kennedy name.

The move drew widespread criticism from artists, patrons and former Kennedy Center officials. Several performers canceled appearances at the venue in protest of the renaming and the administration’s intervention in the institution’s governance.

Part Of Broader Push To Promote Trump’s Name

The Kennedy Center controversy is one of several efforts by the Trump administration to place the president’s name and image on prominent government institutions and symbols.

The now-defunct US Institute of Peace was renamed after Trump, while large banners featuring the president’s image have been displayed outside federal agencies including the Department of Justice and the Department of Agriculture.

The administration has also backed proposals to place Trump’s portrait on a commemorative $250 bill as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

News world US Judge Refuses To Halt Removal Of Trump's Name From Kennedy Center

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