President Donald Trump lashed out Friday at the federal judge who ordered the removal of his name from the Kennedy Center, calling the decision outrageous and announcing he wants to hand the entire troubled institution back to Congress.
In a statement on May 29, Trump targeted U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, for ruling that the Kennedy Center cannot be renamed without an act of Congress and must drop all Trump branding within 14 days.
He also criticized the judge for blocking a planned two-year closure for major renovations.
“The Kennedy Center, which was going to close in early July for large-scale renovations… is not allowed to close for these renovations,” Trump wrote.
He described the building as suffering from years of neglect, with rotting beams, collapsing parking areas, and other serious safety problems.
Trump said leading construction experts presented evidence to the judge about the building’s dangerous condition, but Cooper was unmoved and insisted the center remain open.
The president accused the judge and “Radical Left Democrats” of wanting the center to “die” rather than let him fix it.
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He said the 36-member board of trustees had unanimously voted to add his name to the board, creating the Trump Kennedy Center, but the judge ruled the board lacked the authority to do so.
Trump offered a grim outlook on the finances of the center before he stepped in.
He said poor management and poorly executed construction projects had cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, with some years seeing losses exceeding $100 million.
“I took great pride in taking over a losing institution,” Trump said, and looked forward to turning it into “the Finest Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World.”
He compared the project to other improvements his administration has made in Washington, including work on monuments, fountains, waterfalls, and public spaces through the Department of the Interior.
Those efforts, he said, helped make the city safer and thriving after years of record crime.
Trump noted that he has no desire to stay involved under the current restrictions.
“Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else… I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND,’” he wrote.
Trump Escalates Kennedy Center Clash After “Shocking” Court Order
In a major escalation, Trump said he will work with Congress to transfer full responsibility for the Kennedy Center back to lawmakers.
He has already instructed the Department of Commerce to begin arrangements for the transfer of the center’s operations, maintenance, and management.
The sharp reaction came hours after Judge Cooper ruled and determined that the center is a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, created by Congress, and that only Congress can change its name.
The Trump-appointed board’s December vote to rebrand it exceeded their legal power, the judge said.
The ruling also paused the board’s March decision to shut down the center for extensive repairs estimated at more than $250 million.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, the Ohio Democrat who sued to stop the changes, welcomed the court’s decision earlier in the day.
She argued the board had ignored congressional intent and tried to treat the national landmark like a personal project.
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Kennedy Center officials had warned the court that removing Trump’s name would hurt fundraising.
They claimed the Trump connection had already brought in new private donations and would be key to future support.
The center, which opened in 1971 along the Potomac River, has long struggled with maintenance costs and aging infrastructure.
It hosts major performances, national ceremonies, and educational programs each year.
If the problem goes back to Congress, Trump will be forcing lawmakers to decide the fate of the center.
That could lead to new legislation or prolonged uncertainty for one of Washington’s most visible institutions.
In the meantime, the Kennedy Center must begin removing Trump’s name and branding within two weeks.
