Mohan Sinha
01 Jun 2026, 17:35 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal judge ruled this week that President Donald Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center illegally. The judge also stopped the government's plan to shut down the arts center for major renovations.
This decision is another legal defeat for Trump's attempts to leave a personal mark on Washington, D.C.
In response, Trump said he is stepping back from the renovation plan and will give control of the Kennedy Center back to Congress. He said that if he cannot fully manage and improve the institution in his own way, he does not want to continue.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the Kennedy Center board's March 16 decision to close the building was poorly thought out and seemed already decided, without properly following the law. The renovation work was supposed to start in July and last about two years, but the judge has now stopped it.
The judge also said the board broke the law by adding Trump's name to the building. He explained that only Congress has the authority to name or rename the Kennedy Center.
He ordered that Trump's name be removed from the building and from all official materials within two weeks.
Trump criticized the judge on social media, saying he should be ashamed. He also said he has directed his administration to arrange for the center to be handed back to Congress.
During his second term, Trump has focused on leaving his mark on major places in Washington. He has already made changes to government buildings and proposed new construction projects.
Some of these projects have been challenged in court, and some rulings have gone against him. However, these cases may continue through appeals.
A Kennedy Center spokesperson said the institution believes the decision could be overturned on appeal and that the board acted to recognize Trump's contributions. She also said the building still needs urgent repairs, and funding for the work has already been approved.
The judge reviewed two separate lawsuits about the project. He supported one case brought by a lawmaker but rejected another filed by cultural groups.
The lawmaker said the ruling is a win for the Kennedy Center and hopes it will allow normal work to continue.
Meanwhile, government lawyers argued that the planned renovations were limited, within the board's authority, and did not require outside approval.
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