A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that President Trump’s attempt to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is illegal. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper determined that the institution, which honors the late president, must revert to its original name. According to Politico, the court order also blocks the planned two-year closure, set to begin in July, for large-scale renovations. The news sparked immediate reactions from Kennedy’s nieces. Maria Shriver took to X to reflect on the ruling, calling it “An appropriate birthday present on my uncle’s birthday today.” Kerry Kennedy also posted on X, echoing the birthday sentiment and thanking the lawmaker who filed the lawsuit, “Perhaps I won’t need that pickaxe after all. Thank you, Congresswoman @RepBeatty, for your courage and dedication to ensuring proper procedures are followed.” Trump was quick to respond on Truth Social, too. “Shockingly, a Judge appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, Christopher Cooper, ruled that The Kennedy Center, which was going to close in early July for largescale 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, which would not be possible to properly do without such a closure.” From the beginning, a big part of the conversation was the renaming of the center The President seemed particularly irate with the requirement to remove his name from the building. “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.” The legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed by Representative Joyce Beatty, who serves as an ex officio member of the board. Per The New York Times, Cooper’s ruling relies on a 1964 law passed by Congress shortly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. An appropriate birthday present on my uncle's birthday today. A federal judge ruled that President Trump and the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully in renaming the Kennedy Center. The judge held that only Congress can change the Center's name and blocked the planned two-year… https://t.co/1FpFsj7qhd— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) May 29, 2026 That statute established the building as the “sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy within the city of Washington and its environs.” In his 94-page order, Cooper noted that the law is crystal clear, stating, “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.” The judge’s order requires the center to remove the president’s name from the marble facade within two weeks. Per Politico, Trump, however, has signaled he may be finished with the project entirely. Image courtesy @realDonaldTrump / Truth Social In his post, he said, “I cannot be involved with a situation where danger to the Public is allowed to flourish in plain and open sight. 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 further noted that he has instructed the Department of Commerce to transfer the institution back to Congress. The board’s decision to rename the building had been a point of contention for months, which had also sparked criticism from Shriver. The board’s vote to rename the institution the Trump Kennedy Center led to the name being added to the building’s facade, website, and promotional materials for events like the Kennedy Center Honors. Perhaps I won’t need that pickaxe after all. Thank you, Congresswoman @RepBeatty, for your courage and dedication to ensuring proper procedures are followed. What a great way to celebrate you on your birthday, Uncle Jack! https://t.co/pqVbbEmsyO— Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) May 29, 2026 During the litigation, the NY Times reported that the Justice Department argued the renaming was merely an informal nickname. However, Cooper disagreed, noting that official White House statements had described the action as a formal renaming. The ruling also addressed the board’s governance. Cooper blasted the board for basing its closure decision on an “insufficient, one-sided presentation of information.” He argued that the board failed to consider its legal obligations or the impact on programming, suggesting the decision to close for two years seemed “preordained.” My statement on today’s Kennedy Center court case victory against the Trump administration: pic.twitter.com/S6JPY10FUT— Rep. Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) May 29, 2026 In fact, when the reconstruction had been announced, Kennedy’s family had vehemently disagreed with the action, saying it trespassed “on people’s will.” Now, despite the legal setback, Politico reported that a spokesperson for the center announced the board plans to appeal, remaining “committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”