A federal judge has ordered that President Donald Trump's name be removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and that the theater remain open despite plans for closure due to repairs. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in favor of Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who filed a lawsuit to prevent the renaming of the center. Beatty stated that the ruling reaffirms that efforts to rename and close the center lack legal basis.
The lawsuit claims that Congress dedicated the Kennedy Center to former President John F. Kennedy and that any name change requires congressional approval. Judge Cooper also ruled that a vote to close the center by the board of trustees was improper. The Kennedy Center has two weeks to remove Trump's name and must complete all necessary reviews and obtain approvals before proceeding with any closure or revitalization efforts.
Trump responded on Truth Social, criticizing the ruling and stating that he would work with Congress to address the center's future. The center's vice president of public relations noted that there is acknowledgment of the need for a planned $257 million renovation project, which aims to address maintenance issues and water damage.