Former President Donald Trump faced a setback as a federal judge ordered the removal of his name from the Kennedy Center, a prominent national arts and cultural venue in Washington DC. The judge also halted the center’s closure for extensive renovations, marking a legal blow to Trump’s attempts to leave his mark on the US capital.

Trump had sought to rename the Kennedy Center after himself in exchange for substantial funding for repairs, but the judge deemed the addition of his name to be unlawful. In response to the ruling, Trump indicated that he would withdraw his proposed renovation plans, leading to a cessation of all renovation funding.

Expressing his frustration on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized his desire to revitalize the institution but suggested that without the freedom to do so, he would not pursue a “hopeless journey” towards revitalizing the center.

Roma Daravi, the Vice President of Public Relations at the Kennedy Center, stated that the leadership would carefully review the judge’s decision and expressed confidence in the possibility of appealing the ruling to acknowledge Trump’s historical contributions to the center.

In a controversial move in late 2025, the Kennedy Center’s board, which included Trump’s close political allies, voted to rename the institution as the ‘Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts’, with the new name swiftly displayed on the building’s façade.

Earlier this year, Trump had announced plans for a two-year closure of the Kennedy Center for renovations, citing structural issues and safety concerns. He aimed to transform the center into a world-class facility but had also faced criticism for allegedly influencing its event programming to align with conservative viewpoints.

Under Trump’s administration, the Kennedy Center became a platform for hosting various cultural and political events, including the FIFA World Cup draw, the premiere of a Melania Trump documentary, and the CPAC’s ‘Christian Persecution Summit’.