Legal Clash Over Trump's Name on Kennedy Center

A federal judge declined to pause an order removing Trump's name from the Kennedy Center, ruling only Congress can rename it. The Trump administration's appeal was rejected, maintaining the facility’s original dedication to JFK. Controversy continues as Trump pushes significant changes to Washington landmarks.

A federal judge in Washington on Friday declined a request to temporarily halt the order to remove President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper asserted his ruling that only Congress has the authority to rename the center memorializing former President John F. Kennedy.

The Trump administration appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, but the pause request was rejected later on Friday. Lawyers for Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who initiated the suit, and spokespersons for the Justice Department, the White House, and the Kennedy Center offered no immediate comments.

Cooper's order, issued on May 29, mandated that references to Trump be removed from the site by Friday night. Administration lawyers requested a pause, arguing logistical chaos if the name change were later reversed. Originally opened in 1971, the Kennedy Center continues to stand as a commemorative venue for President Kennedy, despite recent board changes under Trump to rename it and plans for extensive renovations.