Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAn official at the Trump-Kennedy Center warned a federal judge that removing Donald Trump's name would cause unbearable financial damage, severing a vital fundraising connection. Charles Matthew Floca, the center's executive director, stated Trump has already raised tens of millions and committed to raising $150 billion more from private donors. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat, filed a lawsuit in December 2025, challenging the board's decision to permanently add Trump's name, calling it an "unlawful personal vanity project." Beatty's lawsuit also contests Trump's plan to close the center for two years for renovations, arguing only Congress has the authority to rename the institution. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper partially sided with Beatty in March, ruling she must have a "meaningful opportunity to provide input," while a December 2025 YouGov poll showed 66 percent disapproval for renaming the center. In fullKennedy Center official tells judge that removing Trump’s name would make them go broke in new court filingThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

If Trump’s name is removed, a ‘vital fundraising connection will be severed,’ the center’s chief executive argued

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAn official at the Trump-Kennedy Center…

The judge wrote in his 94-page ruling that it was "crystal clear" that the arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. He also ruled that the center could not…

A federal judge is ending Trump’s dreams of taking over the Kennedy Center.

A federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the building, saying only an act of Congress can change the venue’s name.

The Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees in December voted to rename the institution the "Trump Kennedy Center," 10 months after Trump removed several trustees.

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.

The judge ruled the Kennedy Center can't be officially named for anyone else unless Congress approves it.

A US federal judge on Friday ordered the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and blocked plans to temporarily close the venue…

A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue…

A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling the name change was illegal.

The court also found that the Kennedy Center's board was "derelict" when it voted to close the memorial to President John F. Kennedy for two years.

Donald Trump plans to renovate the center, part of a broader push by the Republican leader to reshape Washington's monumental core.

Per the ruling, the planned closure of the center has also been temporarily halted.

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA federal judge has blocked President Donald…

Trump criticized the ruling, saying the judge "should be ashamed of himself," but will hand the venue over to Congress.