President Donald Trump criticized U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper for ruling that his name must be removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and blocking the planned closure of the theater for repairs. The ruling was in favor of Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who filed a lawsuit claiming that the renaming was unlawful. Trump stated on Truth Social that the judge and the 'Radical Left' would prefer to see the center 'die' rather than allow him to transform it. He indicated plans to work with Congress regarding the future of the institution.
The lawsuit contends that the Kennedy Center was dedicated to John F. Kennedy by Congress, and thus any name change requires congressional approval. Judge Cooper also ruled that a vote by the center's board to close the facility was improper. He ordered that Trump’s name be removed within two weeks and issued an injunction to prevent the closure until all necessary reviews and approvals are completed.
Rep. Beatty remarked that the ruling affirms that the administration's actions regarding the center lack legal basis. Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, acknowledged the need for a $257 million renovation project, which was funded by Trump as part of a legislative act.
