A federal judge has ordered the removal of Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling that the Washington DC institution cannot be formally renamed without approval from Congress.

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US District Judge Christopher Cooper directed the Trump administration to remove all signage bearing Trump’s name and delete references to a “Trump Kennedy Center” from official materials within 14 days.

Court Says Congress Controls the Name

In his ruling, Cooper said federal law clearly establishes the venue as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy and leaves no authority for the center’s board to change its name on its own.

“The Kennedy Center’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy,” Cooper wrote. He added that Congress originally gave the institution its name and only Congress has the power to alter it.

The judge concluded that the board had exceeded its legal authority by approving the renaming.

The decision came in a lawsuit filed by Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio who serves on the Kennedy Center’s board through her position in Congress.

The White House did not immediately comment on the ruling.

Renaming Followed Trump Takeover

The dispute stemmed from changes made after Trump returned to office. In February last year, he appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, describing the move as a “take-over”.

He subsequently removed existing board members and installed new appointees. In December, the restructured board voted to add Trump’s name to the institution, a move seen as part of a broader effort by the administration to reshape cultural organisations in the US capital.

At the time, Joe Kennedy III, a former Massachusetts congressman and great-nephew of President Kennedy, questioned whether such a change was legally possible.

He argued that the venue was established by federal law as a memorial to Kennedy and could not simply be renamed by board action.

Backlash From Arts Community

The renaming effort prompted significant opposition within the arts sector.

Several performers and organisations cancelled appearances at the venue in protest, including a scheduled run of the award-winning musical Hamilton.

Leadership changes also followed. National Symphony Orchestra executive director Jean Davidson left to lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Richard Grenell, a Trump ally who played a prominent role in efforts to reshape the institution and challenge what he described as “woke” culture, later stepped down as president of the center.

The Kennedy Center remains one of the United States’ most prominent cultural institutions and receives federal funding. It has traditionally enjoyed support from both major political parties.

Wider Plans Face Challenges

Under Trump, the venue increasingly became a platform for administration initiatives. It hosted events including an appearance by FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of the World Cup draw and other White House-linked functions.

The center is also preparing for a two-year closure after trustees approved a major renovation programme. Officials said the project would begin following Independence Day celebrations in July, with a reopening planned once work is completed.

The Kennedy Center case is one of several legal disputes involving Trump’s plans for Washington. Other proposals, including a large ballroom at the White House site and a “Victory Arch” near national monuments, have also faced court challenges. Congressional Republicans have additionally proposed renaming the Kennedy Center’s Opera House after First Lady Melania Trump.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 30 May 2026

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Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

Oh I have a feeling this is just a start of the eraser of this toxic troll of a president just the start.

I’m sure anything that he has decided to put his name on will be taken off as soon as he is gone. Enjoy your 15 minutes.

The Mad King is going to be throwing ketchup at the walls again. And the judge’s name isn’t going to be on the White House’s Christmas card list.

The one that gets me is his trademark ownership for the Donald Trump Airport in West Palm Beach. He’s such a grifter.

5 hours ago, bannork said:

Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

6 hours ago, bannork said:

Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

I think laxatives would be most appropriate - Trump Poop - a - lot has a certain ring to it?

I'm surprised he hasn't commissioned a giant statue of himself on the White House lawn to remind everybody what a wonderful president they have.

Just now, Bannoi said:

I'm surprised he hasn't commissioned a giant statue of himself on the White House lawn to remind everybody what a wonderful president they have.

There is "Don Colossus," at National Doral Miami golf resort in Florida I think the sain Yanks don't need too many reminders of what a utter moron the guy is

Good decision.

I have a more fitting suggestion to spread the name Trump wide and far: Each American town's main sewer could be renamed to "The Donald Trump Sewer" in a tribute to the great man.

6 hours ago, bannork said:

Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

6 hours ago, bannork said:

Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

6 hours ago, bannork said:

Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

The bottom of a toilet bowl comes to mind.

Mr. Trump railed against the judge’s ruling in an incensed social media post, suggesting that he was considering casting the Kennedy Center aside as one of his personal projects. The president wrote that unless he was free to decide the center’s trajectory, he had “no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey.”

“Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of, much as I have done, in many cases, throughout my life,” he wrote.

Trump does not deserve to have his pathetic name on an Oshkosh plastic porta potty, much less the Kennedy Center. The man would not know culture if it bit him on his enormous ankles. He has likely never attended a play, opera, or ballet. He is rancid street trash, posing as a leader. And failing miserable, by nearly every metric. Thankfully, his irrelevance is close at hand.

Just now, spidermike007 said:

Mr. Trump railed against the judge’s ruling in an incensed social media post, suggesting that he was considering casting the Kennedy Center aside as one of his personal projects. The president wrote that unless he was free to decide the center’s trajectory, he had “no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey.”

“Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of, much as I have done, in many cases, throughout my life,” he wrote.

Trump does not deserve to have his pathetic name on an Oshkosh plastic porta potty, much less the Kennedy Center. The man would not know culture if it bit him on his enormous ankles. He has likely never attended a play, opera, or ballet. He is rancid street trash, posing as a leader. And failing miserable, by nearly every metric. Thankfully, his irrelevance is close at hand.

Just now, spidermike007 said:

his irrelevance is close at hand.

Wishfull thinking !! you will have him for the rest of his life you yanks will not get rid of him !!

7 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Wishfull thinking !! you will have him for the rest of his life you yanks will not get rid of him !!

Nope. His sorry reign of destruction is nearly over. After November he will likely be doubly impotent. The tiny mushroom man will no longer be a danger to humanity!

Just now, spidermike007 said:

Nope. His sorry reign of destruction is nearly over. After November he will likely be doubly impotent. The tiny mushroom man will no longer be a danger to humanity!

ok please explain how you think he will be removed after the midterms

7 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

ok please explain how you think he will be removed after the midterms

If the dems gain control of the house and senate, Trump may as well resign, or commit suicide.

Just now, spidermike007 said:

If the dems gain control of the house and senate, Trump may as well resign, or commit suicide.

"IF" is a big word !! i still think he will not go !!

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

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6 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh I have a feeling this is just a start of the eraser of this toxic troll of a president just the start.

There is always the possibility that everyone has been giving him enough rope to hang himself.

But I doubt it.

3 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

There is "Don Colossus," at National Doral Miami golf resort in Florida I think the sain Yanks don't need too many reminders of what a utter moron the guy is

I think the sane Yanks have been noticeably in the minority in recent years.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

He is rancid street trash, posing as a leader

And seemingly supported by tens of millions and wide swathes of the establishment and institutions that were meant to rein such monsters in. That he became elected president is a symptom not the problem.

15 minutes ago, BusyB said:

And seemingly supported by tens of millions and wide swathes of the establishment and institutions that were meant to rein such monsters in. That he became elected president is a symptom not the problem.

This is correct Trump is a symptom not the problem, American democracy is experiencing a severe decline, with multiple institutions and expert indices downgrading the U.S. from a "full liberal democracy" to a flawed "electoral democracy" or mixed regime. This backsliding is driven by factors like hyper-polarization, election manipulation, and the centralization of executive power

1. Election Integrity: Concerns frequently center on state-level voting restrictions, partisan gerrymandering, and attempts to politicize the administration of elections.

2. Checks and Balances: A gridlocked Congress and questions regarding the impartiality of the judiciary have weakened the government's ability to provide unbiased oversight.

3. Executive Overreach: There are ongoing concerns about the erosion of an independent civil service and expansions of federal power.

4. Deep Polarization: Studies by organizations like the Pew Research Center show significant and growing dissatisfaction with how democracy is operating.

5. Declining Trust: Distrust in the system is fueled by extreme partisanship, in which a large portion of the electorate views the opposing side with deep animosity and distrusts traditional government institutions

   This is the start of the decline of America

11 hours ago, bannork said:

Can't they put his name on some ubiquitous product used by all to remind us of his genius?

I was thinking of toilet rolls.

They've already gone one better... he'll kisses your ass with every wipe 😁

US Judge Orders Trump Name Removed From Kennedy Center

Good. Trump's pathological Narcessistic Personality Disorder will motivate him to name anything to do with the Federal government after him.

Trump DC
Trump International Airport 1

Trump International Airport 2

...
Trump International Airport 150
The Trump Building 1

The Trump Building 2
...
The Trump Building 502
The Trump Monument
The Trump Memorial
The Leaning Tower of Trump (why stop in the US)
The Trump Ocean East
The Trump Ocean West
The Church of Trump

There's no end to it.

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Mr. Trump railed against the judge’s ruling in an incensed social media post, suggesting that he was considering casting the Kennedy Center aside as one of his personal projects. The president wrote that unless he was free to decide the center’s trajectory, he had “no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey.”

“Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of, much as I have done, in many cases, throughout my life,” he wrote.

Trump does not deserve to have his pathetic name on an Oshkosh plastic porta potty, much less the Kennedy Center. The man would not know culture if it bit him on his enormous ankles. He has likely never attended a play, opera, or ballet. He is rancid street trash, posing as a leader. And failing miserable, by nearly every metric. Thankfully, his irrelevance is close at hand.

He should be recognized as the Antipresident, political equivalent of the Antichrist. All the presidencies since George Bush Jr have been failed ones, and this one is hopefully the culmination that puts an end to this downward spiral. Otherwise, the dollar monopoly may collapse and with it the ability to finance irresponsible wars.

19 minutes ago, connda said:

US Judge Orders Trump Name Removed From Kennedy Center

Good. Trump's pathological Narcessistic Personality Disorder will motivate him to name anything to do with the Federal government after him.

Trump DC
Trump International Airport 1

Trump International Airport 2

...
Trump International Airport 150
The Trump Building 1

The Trump Building 2
...
The Trump Building 502
The Trump Monument
The Trump Memorial
The Leaning Tower of Trump (why stop in the US)
The Trump Ocean East
The Trump Ocean West
The Church of Trump

There's no end to it.

The Gulf of Trump America

The Trumpian Gulf

3 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

ok please explain how you think he will be removed after the midterms

By 2/3 of senators (including some Republicans?) convicting him.

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

This is correct Trump is a symptom not the problem, American democracy is experiencing a severe decline, with multiple institutions and expert indices downgrading the U.S. from a "full liberal democracy" to a flawed "electoral democracy" or mixed regime. This backsliding is driven by factors like hyper-polarization, election manipulation, and the centralization of executive power

1. Election Integrity: Concerns frequently center on state-level voting restrictions, partisan gerrymandering, and attempts to politicize the administration of elections.

2. Checks and Balances: A gridlocked Congress and questions regarding the impartiality of the judiciary have weakened the government's ability to provide unbiased oversight.

3. Executive Overreach: There are ongoing concerns about the erosion of an independent civil service and expansions of federal power.

4. Deep Polarization: Studies by organizations like the Pew Research Center show significant and growing dissatisfaction with how democracy is operating.

5. Declining Trust: Distrust in the system is fueled by extreme partisanship, in which a large portion of the electorate views the opposing side with deep animosity and distrusts traditional government institutions

   This is the start of the decline of America

The Internet is the Tower of Babble, and Trump is one result.

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If the dems gain control of the house and senate, Trump may as well resign, or commit suicide.

Wait! The bunker under the ballroom is not finished yet....