Federal judge rules Trump's name must be removed from Kennedy Center

A federal judge has ordered that President Donald Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper stated that the venue cannot be renamed without an act of Congress, asserting that the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees exceeded its authority by unilaterally renaming the building. The ruling requires the Trump administration to remove all physical signage with Trump's name and eliminate references to a 'Trump-Kennedy Center' in official materials. Judge Cooper emphasized that the Kennedy Center's statute clearly states it is to be named for President Kennedy, and only Congress has the authority to change that name. This ruling follows a lawsuit filed by U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio. The White House has not yet commented on the decision. Cooper had previously denied a request for a preliminary injunction from a preservation group to block the planned two-year closure of the Kennedy Center for renovations. Both cases are expected to continue through litigation and appeals. Beatty, who is an ex officio member of the board, expressed support for the ruling, stating that it affirms the law regarding the administration's efforts to rename and close the Center.