U.S. President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
US District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper shot down President Donald Trump's effort to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after himself, citing the congressional laws that established the institution, making the name of it "abundantly clear."
"Congress likewise took pains to ensure that no other memorial-like dedication would grace the Center’s public spaces. As a result, the Kennedy Center Board’s decision to rename the Center, along with its decision to affix President Trump’s name to the building’s façade, violate Congress’s unequivocal mandate. As stated at the outset, Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it," the judge wrote in his 94-page opinion.
"And because the Defendants are currently in violation of Congress's express statutory direction, the Court will order that they remove President Trump's name from the institution's title, as represented on the façade of the Center, any other physical or digital signage, and official materials," it continues.
The Center is meant to memorialize "President Kennedy and President Kennedy alone," Judge Cooper ruled.
He also made it clear that the name can't be redesignated as the "Trump-Kennedy Center" even if it was a "nickname" or an unofficial name. The statute is clear that even in that case, it would violate the law.
Judge Cooper adds that Trump's decision to close the Center down for two years was "a dereliction of common law duty of prudence," explained Lawfare's Roger Parloff.
The ruling came on what would have been Kennedy's 109th birthday.
Legal expert and Trump foe Norm Eisen celebrated the ruling for his colleagues at the litigation group Democracy Defenders Action
He called it a one-two-punch, "the renaming and the closure of the Kennedy Center are enjoined."
"About time," cheered former prosecutor Joyce Vance.
"The ruling is a stinging blow for the president, who has made clear his personal stake in the rebranding and remodeling of the Kennedy Center," wrote Politico in its report.
"Trump wants to unilaterally decide everything and put his face and name everywhere for what was supposed to be nonpartisan with congressional oversight and then MAGA pretends to be confused as to why anyone would take issue with that," lawyer Damin Toell said on X.
“'Why don’t acts want to play at the Trump Kennedy Center, it’s a total mystery, they must hate America' vibes," replied The Bulwark's Sonny Bunch.
It prompted questions from followers about how quickly Trump's name must be removed. But another was concerned that Trump might order the building bulldozed after he took down the East Wing of the White House. One grandfather offered to help remove the sign.
"Remember that while Trump might get away with some of the stupid and childish stuff he pulls in the short-term, in the long-term courts overturn him 9 times out of 10. Today he got walloped over his Kennedy Center antics," said one person promoting Eisen's announcement.
"If this is the thing that finally causes him to stroke out, I will sing the entirety of Les Misérables on the Kennedy Center steps," pledged one man.
Writer Aaron Von Dorn said that he continues to find it "wild" that Trump shamelessly put his name on a Kennedy memorial. "I just cannot understand that kind of raw need."
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