Trump Name Returning to Kennedy Center Isn't Renaming, DOJ Argues in Court
The performing arts center's board now wants the president's name under the building's original namesake.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, located in Washington, D.C., remains known as such despite efforts by President Donald Trump to alter its name. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the Kennedy Center's attorneys argued before a federal judge that the institution would not be renamed after the president, despite plans to incorporate his name into the building's facade.
The judge, Christopher Cooper, had previously ruled that only Congress has the authority to rename the memorial, established in honor of President John F. Kennedy. Lutnick maintained that the center's leadership acted within its authority, as they sought to honor Trump's significant contributions to the institution. The dispute arose after Trump replaced board members with allies who sought to exert greater control over the center's operations and future direction.
The controversy intensified when the board approved the addition of Trump's name to the building and proposed a two-year closure for major renovations. The latest court battle stems from Trump's attempts to reshape the Kennedy Center since taking office in January 2025, sparking legal challenges over whether the administration can alter a federally designated memorial.
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