Court ruling
Trump’s name must be removed from the building
Updated May 29, 2026 – 11:55 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Donald Trump renamed the Kennedy Center after himself. A judge has now accepted this
A judge gave Trump a serious blow. The world-famous cultural center in Washington can keep its old name – and should not be closed.
A federal judge in Washington has ordered that Trump’s name be removed from the facade of the Kennedy Center. The planned two-year closure of the house for renovation work is also off the table for the time being.
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The court based its decision on the fact that the name of the Kennedy Center was once determined by Congress – therefore only Congress can change it. Trump renamed the cultural center the “Trump Kennedy Center” in December, which led to massive protests. Numerous artists then canceled their performances.
Trump announced on the “Truth Social” platform that he now wanted to work with Congress to push through the renaming. He criticized the judge for his decision. “I have directed the Department of Commerce to make all necessary arrangements with Congress to facilitate a full transfer of this facility and to give it responsibility for its operation, maintenance and administration,” he wrote.
Trump wants to realign the institution
The Kennedy Center on the banks of the Potomac River is considered one of the most renowned cultural institutions in the USA. It features all genres of theater, dance and music and bears the name of former President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).
Shortly after taking office, Trump brought the center under his control. He dismissed several members of the board of trustees, took over the chairmanship personally and commissioned his confidant Richard Grenell to reorient the institution. Trump had announced a fight against what he described as “anti-American propaganda” in the cultural sector.
