A federal judge has blocked the Kennedy Center from moving forward with plans to add the name of President Donald Trump to the building facade and grounds, as reported by Deadline. In a ruling issued on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper stated that the institution cannot proceed with these naming proposals without clear approval from Congress. This decision marks the latest development in a long-running legal dispute over the branding of the site. The judge emphasized that the law limits the placement of memorials within the facility to honor only President Kennedy. In his ruling, the judge wrote, “Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.” The board had previously voted to designate the complex as the Trump Kennedy Center, a move that prompted a legal challenge and an earlier order from Judge Cooper to remove the name. Since that initial ruling last spring, a tarp has remained over the official designation on the front of the building. The board attempted to circumvent this by proposing new signage that would state the center was “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” and by renaming the surrounding grounds as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” Judge Cooper noted that the law specifically prohibits additional memorials in public areas Judge Cooper noted that “common sense dictates that the words ‘renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump’ establish a memorial.” Regarding the proposal to rename the grounds, the judge observed that Congress likely did not intend for the board to sell off naming rights to parts of the campus. Donald Trump Says Kennedy Center Will Close Immediately And No Renovations Will Take Place Unless His Name Is Restored To Facade See more details here: https://t.co/S4uphRuKKr pic.twitter.com/uX6HBNb3Em— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 15, 2026 The board has argued that adding the president’s name is a vital strategy to raise funds and avoid bankruptcy. However, Judge Cooper pointed out that the center’s attorneys failed to provide evidence supporting the claim that such branding would help. Instead, he noted that the court saw data suggesting the opposite, including declining ticket sales, the departure of the Washington National Opera, and the cancellation of performances by artists who disagreed with the name change. President Trump addressed the ruling on Truth Social, describing the center as being in a “virtual state of collapse.” He stated, “The Board of The Kennedy Center has strongly voted to save it, and they know I’m the only one who can do so, because I have the ability to raise the money, and the ability to construct — that few others have.” He further claimed that the building is “destined to doom” due to the court’s interference. The board had also been considering a resolution to immediately close the main building, citing safety concerns following a ceiling collapse during a rainstorm. While the judge did not block a potential closure, he previously required the board to conduct a more thorough assessment of the impact before moving forward. The center is currently appealing the judge’s original order that prohibited the initial naming plan and required more oversight regarding renovation shutdowns.