Trump Reacts to Kennedy Center Name Removal Order

President Donald Trump is striking back at a judge’s ruling to remove his name from the Kennedy Center, claiming discrimination from the democratic party.

“Shockingly, a Judge appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, Christopher Cooper, ruled that The Kennedy Center, which was going to close in early July for large-scale renovations and construction due to years of neglect, decay, and poor maintenance, and which was to be transformed by the Trump Administration into the Finest Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World, is not allowed to close for these renovations,” Trump, 79, wrote in a lengthy statement via Truth Social on Friday, May 29, hours after Judge Cooper declared the two-year closure was temporarily on hold. “Which would not be possible to properly do without such a closure.”

Trump continued by saying, “Additionally, Judge Cooper ruled that the 36 Member Board of Trustees, which unanimously voted to add the name ‘TRUMP’ onto the former Kennedy Center, making it The Trump Kennedy Center, did not have the right to do such an addition, and the name, ‘TRUMP,’ must be removed.”

On Friday, the judge ruled that Trump’s December 2025 decision to add his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — currently known as The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts — was wrongfully changed.

Cooper explained that only Congress has the power to change the name of the iconic Washington, D.C., institution, named in honor of the 35th president of the United States, President John F. Kennedy.

As a result, the judge said that Trump’s name must be removed and if he wants to petition for it to be placed back on the building, Congress must vote it through.

Additionally, the judge ordered a pause on Trump’s renovation plans for the Kennedy Center, which the president previously announced would take two years, during which time the building would be shut down.

The judge argued that the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees did have “sufficient information in advance of the March 16 meeting to make a well-considered decision to close the center.”

The board can reconvene and potentially get the plans and closure approved after “independently balancing its multiple obligations to the Center in a prudent fashion,” per the ruling.

Trump, for his part, claimed on Friday that the Kennedy Center “has lost, over the years, prior to our getting involved a short while ago, Hundreds of Millions of Dollars — In some cases, including ridiculous construction jobs that were done, over 100 Million Dollars a year.”

He noted in his statement that he took “great pride in taking over a losing institution” and looked forward to “making it into a Great and Prestigious WINNER for Washington, D.C., and indeed, the United States of America.”

Trump alleged that the judge and “the radical left” would rather see the Kennedy Center “die” than have him “transform it into something that everyone could be proud of.”

Trump doubled down on his claims, writing, “Therefore, based on the fact that the Radical Left Democrats care more about opposing your favorite President, ME, than saving a dying Performing Arts Center, almost all of which lose large amounts of money throughout the Country, we are going to be working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it.”

The president claimed that the judge wants the Kennedy Center to “remain open, and therefore, dangerous” instead of siding with the board and Trump’s decision to close during renovations.

“Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself! I cannot be involved with a situation where danger to the Public is allowed to flourish in plain and open sight,” Trump declared. “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.’”

Trump further alleged that “there has never” been a U.S. president who has been “treated so unfairly by the courts” as he has, noting he was “OK” with that alleged fact because he plans to “continue to do what is considered to be a great job for the wonderful people of our country.”

The Commander in Chief concluded by saying he has “instructed the Department of Commerce to make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution, giving them the responsibility for its Operation, Maintenance, and Management.”

In addition to Trump’s outrage over the court’s ruling on Friday, the powers at the Kennedy Center also took issue with the orders.

When it comes to the Trump name removal, the Trump Kennedy Center vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, told Us Weekly in a statement that the center is “confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board’s will to recognize President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center.”

Daravi also weighed in on the temporary construction and closure halt, telling Us, “We will review the decision carefully though the reality remains — the Center requires an urgent and significant restoration – a truth that even the plaintiff acknowledges.”

“With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy,” the statement concluded.

Maria Shriver, who is the niece of JFK, was on the opposite side of the line, celebrating the victory for her family’s legacy.

“An appropriate birthday present on my uncle’s birthday today,” Shriver, 70, wrote via Threads on Friday, referring to the late president, who would have been 109 years old today. “I know they’ll probably appeal and the story isn’t over, but for today, let’s celebrate a great birthday gift.”