NewsUS NewsDonald TrumpA fuming Donald Trump has claimed the Kennedy Center is on a 'hopeless journey into never never land' after a judge blocked his bid to rename the venue after himself09:36, 30 May 2026Donald Trump has claimed the Kennedy Center is set for a 'hopeless journey into never never land' after a judge ruled that his name must be taken off the building.‌A federal judge ruled yesterday that Donald Trump’s name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center, the US's national arts and cultural venue in Washington DC. He also blocked the administration from closing the centre for major renovations - marking the latest legal setback in Trump’s efforts to reshape the US capital in his image.‌Trump had replaced the centre's board of trustees, and pushed to have the venue officially renamed after him in exchange for millions of dollars in funding for repairs.‌In a furious reaction to the ruling last night, Trump signalled he would back away from his proposed renovation - but that this would also see all funding for renovations cut off.He wrote on his Truth Social platform: "Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND."‌Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's Vice President of Public Relations, said bosses would leadership would review the judge's decision "carefully" and were "confident" that an appeal would allow them to "recognise President Trump's historic contributions".The Kennedy Center's board, which has been stacked with close political allies of Trump's including JD Vance's wife Usha, voted to change the institution's name to the 'Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' in late 2025.The new name appeared on the front of the building shortly afterwards.Article continues belowEarlier this year, Trump announced the venue would close for two years for renovations after claiming it suffered structural and safety problems like "rotting beams", and decaying parking areas.The US president vowed to make the refurbish Kennedy Center to make it the "finest facility of its kind anywhere in the world" - but has also appeared to exert some on influence its programme of events, which have been criticised by conservatives in the past for being too 'woke' and promoting liberal viewpoints.He has made the venue a staging post for his administration's cultural and political agenda, including the FIFA World Cup draw, the premiere of the Melania Trump documentary, and the CPAC's 'Christian Persecution Summit'.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Donald Trump