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A federal judge has blocked the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Board of Trustees from placing President Donald Trump’s name on the building or its surrounding grounds without congressional approval.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the ruling on September 15, 2026. It marks the second time a federal court has rejected efforts by the Trump-aligned board to add the president’s name to the historic Washington, D.C., cultural institution.
The Brief
In his 22-page decision, Cooper emphasized that the Kennedy Center is federally designated property and serves as a living memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.
“Simply put,” Cooper wrote, “Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.”
The judge also concluded that the board’s latest actions violated an earlier federal court order and congressional statutes. He criticized the government’s attempt to use different wording to avoid the restrictions, describing the approach as an effort to play “word games.”
What We Know
The dispute follows an earlier ruling in May 2026 that required the removal of physical “Trump” signage from the Kennedy Center’s facade.
In August, the board approved another branding strategy. Rather than placing Trump’s name directly in the center’s main title, trustees proposed changing the exterior inscription to read: “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.”
The board also voted to rename the front grounds the “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” Another proposed inscription would have recognized the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund” if the fundraising effort reached $100 million.
Cooper’s latest order blocks those efforts, making clear that the board cannot create memorials or other permanent acknowledgments honoring Trump at the Kennedy Center without congressional authorization.
The legal challenge was brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board. Beatty accused Trump of using the institution in pursuit of a personal branding project.
The ruling also came amid growing concerns about the center’s finances. Following the decision, the board reportedly voted in a closed-door meeting to close the Kennedy Center, citing financial problems and the continuing dispute over the institution’s branding.
What’s Next
President Trump has confirmed that the Department of Justice plans to appeal Cooper’s ruling.
Trump has also linked federal funding for major physical repairs to his effort to have his name recognized at the center. The administration has argued that substantial renovations are necessary, while critics maintain that the board cannot alter the identity of a memorial established by Congress.
The appeal could determine whether the board may pursue another form of recognition for Trump. For now, the court’s order prevents the placement of his name on the Kennedy Center building or grounds without congressional approval.
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