Donald Trump has reacted furiously to a federal judge's ruling that his name was illegally added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The judge also blocked the administration from closing the venue for major renovations, marking the latest legal setback in Trump's efforts to reshape the US capital.
Trump had replaced the centre's board of trustees with close political allies, including Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, and pushed to rename the institution the 'Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' in exchange for millions of dollars in funding for repairs. The new name appeared on the building in late 2025.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump signalled he would back away from the proposed renovation, stating: '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.' He suggested all funding for renovations would be cut off.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's Vice President of Public Relations, said the leadership would review the judge's decision 'carefully' and were 'confident' that an appeal would allow them to 'recognise President Trump's historic contributions'.
Earlier this year, Trump announced the venue would close for two years for renovations, citing structural and safety problems such as 'rotting beams' and decaying parking areas. He has used the centre to stage events aligned with his administration's cultural and political agenda, including the FIFA World Cup draw and the CPAC 'Christian Persecution Summit'.
