The White House was dealt a big blow on Friday when District Judge ‌Christopher ⁠Cooper ordered that the name of the iconic Washington venue be returned to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Judge Copper further ordered that the proposed closure during the upcoming renovations will not happen.  The Center must remain open.

He noted, an insufficient, one-sided presentation of information that neglected to consider the full range of its statutory obligations and potential adverse consequences of closure on programming and memorial functions.”

Congress is the only entity that can change the name of the Kennedy Center which was named by Congress as memorial to the assassinated President while in office in November 1963.

Judge Cooper ordered, “Trump’s name must be taken off the institution’s title, its façade – and any other physical or digital signage – and official materials within 14 days.”

Judge Cooper noted in his 94 page order, “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.”

Over the past several months the White House has been rebranding, refurbishing, and renovating all across the Washington, D.C. area; frequently without prior permission to do so.  Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”

Speaking on the court ruling, Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Davari said, “we are confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board’s will to recognize President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center.”

She added, “though the reality remains – the Center requires an urgent and significant restoration – a truth that even the plaintiff acknowledges.  With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”

In February 2025, a hostile takeover was made on the Kennedy Center with the bipartisan board replaced by loyalists.  In December 2025, those loyalist Board members voted to (illegally) rename the Kennedy Center.  The change was placed on the building the following day.

The result of the hostile takeover and subsequent name change launched a series of program and artist cancellations; ticket sales plummeted as a result.

Earlier this year, the White House announced that the Kennedy Center was in serious need of renovations and repairs; therefore on July 4 the Center would close for two years for those renovations – “in honour of the 250th Anniversary of our Country”.

Congresswoman and board member Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit saying Democrats were not allowed to cast a vote on board matters.  Later the suit was amended to include closure of the Kennedy Center for repairs.

In response to the court ruling, Beatty said, “today’s ruling rightly affirms that this administration’s efforts to rename and close the Center have no basis in law.”

She added, “The Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump. He has desecrated this sacred memorial for his own vanity. I am proud to have fought for the rule of law and to protect this sacred institution.”

In a post of Truth Social, it appeared that the White House was ceding control over the Kennedy Center, operation saying he will be “working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it.”

Adding, “unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND'”.

He also directed the Commerce Department to “make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution, giving them the responsibility for its Operation, Maintenance, and Management.”

He noted that the judge “should be ashamed of himself.”