Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Remove Trump’s Name, Halts Renovation

- Home - Music - News

May 29, 2026 12:23pm PT

Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Remove Trump’s Name From Building Within Two Weeks, Halts Planned Two-Year Renovation Plan

By Todd Spangler

Plus Icon

Todd Spangler

NY Digital Editor

xpangler

Latest

- Court Formally Clears Hernan Lopez, Former Fox TV Exec and Wondery Founder, of Bribery Charge 50 minutes ago

- Filmmaker Jorge Gutierrez Drops Plans for AI-Generated Series Funded by Amazon MGM Studios After Backlash 4 hours ago

- ABC Submits Broadcast Renewal Applications to FCC ‘Under Protest,’ Says Agency Order Is ‘Unlawful, Arbitrary and Unconstitutional’ 23 hours ago

See All

- - - - - -

- - - - - - -

The move by the board of trustees the Kennedy Center to add President Donald Trump ‘s name to the cultural institution was illegal, a federal judge ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered Kennedy Center officials to remove Trump’s name from the building within two weeks. In a related ruling, Cooper granted a request by U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) for a preliminary injunction to block Trump — for now — from taking any further steps toward closing the institution.

In his ruling, Cooper wrote, “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”

Popular on Variety

Trump earlier this year had said the Kennedy Center would shut down for two years starting July 4, 2026, to undergo a “complete rebuilding.”

Reps for the Kennedy Center and the White House did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Read More About:

- Donald Trump, - Kennedy Center

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

- ### International Casting Directors Association Launches AI Guidelines for Casting Platforms at Cannes Film Festival - ### UTA Signs ‘Union County’ Filmmaker Adam Meeks (EXCLUSIVE) - ### Kristen Stewart Subverts Cannes’ Strict Dress Code in Nike and Converse Sneakers - ### Beauty Influencer Golloria George Signs With UTA - ### Karamo Brown, David Archuleta, Anna Konkle and Joshua Bassett Set for Hollywood & Mind Summit at UTA (EXCLUSIVE) - ### Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio, Maite Alberdi Lead Chilean Contingent at the 41st Guadalajara Film Festival

Loading comments...

_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/judge-orders-kennedy-center-remove-trump-name-illegal-1236762593/)._