Obama Appointed Judge Rules Kennedy Center Can't Be Named After Trump

A federal judge on Friday dealt a massive blow to the administration, ordering the immediate removal of President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center and halting a planned two-year closure of the iconic culture hub.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama, ruled that the administration acted unlawfully when its handpicked board unilaterally added Trump’s name to the national monument, stating a rename requires an act of Congress.

“The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear ‌that ⁠the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or ​public memorial ​based ⁠on the Board's unilateral say-so,” Cooper wrote. “Congress gave the Kennedy ​Center its name, and only ​Congress ⁠can change it.”

The preliminary injunction gives officials 14 days to strip Trump's signage from the facade, delivering a victory to Democratic lawmakers and historical preservationists who sued to block the controversial rebrand.

The lawsuit was brought by Democratic Representative ⁠Joyce ​Beatty of Ohio.

Beatty’s attorney Norman Eisen posted on X, “BREAKING: we just won our Kennedy Center case! Both the renaming & the closure of the Kennedy Center are enjoined. This is a 1-2 punch against Trump’s corruption.”

President Trump moved to put his name on Washington's premier performing arts venue in December 2025, after a board he largely appointed voted to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts the "Trump-Kennedy Center." The change was framed by the White House and center officials as recognition of Trump's role in overhauling the institution and boosting fundraising, with workers quickly adding his name to the building's facade and updating its branding.

The move triggered immediate backlash and an ongoing legal fight, with critics arguing the renaming is unlawful because Congress designated the center as a memorial to Kennedy and would need to approve any formal change.

Programming disruptions and artist cancellations have followed the Kennedy Center's renaming controversy, as the institution faced mounting backlash from performers and audiences. Reports indicate that some artists pulled out of scheduled events and ticket sales fell during 2025 after Trump took control and pushed changes at the venue, while critics cited concerns over political interference and shifting programming priorities.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 3:26 PM.