A federal judge on Friday ordered President Donald Trump’s name removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and blocked plans to close the venue for two years of renovations.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper granted in part a preliminary injunction sought by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio board member. The ruling requires Kennedy Center officials to remove Trump’s name from the building facade, website, and official materials within two weeks. It also halts the planned July closure while allowing some construction to proceed. Cooper just happens to be married to Joe Biden’s personal attorney Amy Jeffress.
The decision creates major uncertainty for the center’s immediate future. Leaders had already canceled most performances in preparation for the shutdown.
The Washington Post reports the ruling stems from two related lawsuits challenging Trump administration actions at the landmark venue: Beatty sued in December 2025 after the Trump-appointed board voted to rename the institution the “Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” She alleged she was improperly muted during the virtual meeting when trying to object. Her amended complaint sought to block both the renaming and the closure.
The groups also claim prior alterations, such as repainting the iconic gold exterior columns white and adding Trump’s name, caused historic harm without required reviews.
Judge Cooper has pressed both sides on whether standard federal construction review processes apply to the Kennedy Center project. The Friday ruling represents the most significant legal development to date in the ongoing disputes.