Photo: KENT NISHIMURA / AFP / Getty Images
President Donald Trump has decided to end his involvement with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts following a federal judge's ruling on Friday (May 29). The judge declared that Trump's name must be removed from the center and blocked plans to close it for renovations. According to the ruling, the center is to remain named after President Kennedy, and only Congress has the authority to change it.
The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, came after the Kennedy Center board's vote to close the facility for two years was deemed "ill-informed and seemingly preordained." The judge stated that the board overstepped its bounds by adding Trump's name to the center without Congressional approval. The ruling requires the removal of Trump's name from the façade and all official materials within 14 days.
In response, Trump criticized the Obama-appointed judge and announced he would turn over responsibility for the center to Congress. He expressed frustration on his Truth Social platform, stating, "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.'"
The ruling halts the planned renovations, which were set to begin in July. Trump had argued that the renovations were necessary for safety reasons. However, the court's decision has paused these plans, as reported by AP News.
The Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, stated that the center is confident the court will uphold the board's will to recognize Trump's contributions on appeal. Despite the ruling, she emphasized the urgent need for renovations, noting that $257 million had been secured for the project.
The legal challenges surrounding the Kennedy Center are part of a broader pattern of opposition to Trump's efforts to leave his mark on Washington landmarks. Similar projects have faced legal hurdles, and the administration plans to appeal the decision.