A federal judge in Washington has blocked the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from installing an inscription on its exterior to honor President Donald Trump. U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper issued an order on Tuesday, September 15, declaring that adding text below the building’s main sign reading “renovated and restored by Donald J. Trump” would violate his prior mandates.
In a 22-page ruling, Judge Cooper emphasized that the board of trustees lacks the authority to install memorials for the president or any other individual without explicit congressional approval. The judge noted that such a resolution directly conflicts with both a federal court order and the 1964 law originally established to honor President John F. Kennedy.
The Kennedy Center board had been scheduled to vote on the inscription on Tuesday following an August decision to move forward with the plan. However, federal government attorneys informed the court late Monday that the proposal had been removed from the board’s meeting agenda. Draft documents had previously outlined ten potential phrases aimed at recognizing Trump’s financial contributions to the center.
The proposal to add the honorary inscription was viewed as an effort to bypass Judge Cooper’s May ruling, which ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the institution’s branding and physical signage. Officials aligned with the president had suggested that financial support for the center’s rescue from potential bankruptcy was contingent upon the inclusion of the memorial text.
During a court hearing on Tuesday, Judge Cooper questioned government attorneys regarding the legal viability of the center, specifically asking whether a trust of its nature could even file for bankruptcy. When the attorneys could not provide an answer, the judge advised them to have a clearer understanding of the facts before presenting such concepts to the court.
Beyond the inscription dispute, the board is still set to vote on a proposal to close the facility for two years to address building repairs. While the government contends that the closure is necessary due to identified leaks and structural issues, the judge maintained that his previous orders do not prohibit routine maintenance, provided the center remains accessible to the public.
The ongoing legal battle stems from a controversial March vote by the board to rename the facility for Trump and shutter it for renovations. Judge Cooper previously ruled that the board made that decision without sufficient information. Compliance with the judge’s June 13 deadline to remove Trump’s name from the signage was delayed, and a large tarp currently remains over the building’s facade, obstructing the public view of the signage.
The ultimate decision on whether the center can move forward with a long-term closure rests with Judge Cooper, who is currently reviewing a motion from the government to vacate his earlier order blocking the shutdown. For now, the administration of the center remains under strict judicial oversight regarding its signage, branding, and operational status. The report also notes that simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing,” Cooper, an appointee of President Barack Obama, wrote in the 22-page ord. The report also notes that a draft resolution originally prepared for the board to consider proposed 10 different wordings and phrases to recognize Trump’s financial support for the center with an inscription below the center’s main exterior sign. The report also notes that before throwing around these concepts, I would suggest knowing the answer to these questions,” Cooper said. The report also notes that reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.