Trump says Kennedy Centre to close after judge bars name change

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the renowned Kennedy Centre, a cultural venue named after the late John F. Kennedy, may be forced to shut down indefinitely after a federal judge ruled that his name cannot be added to the building's exterior. Trump's administration had installed a "Trump-Kennedy" label on the institution's facade as chairman of the centre.

The judge, Christopher Cooper, ordered the removal of Trump's name in June following a previous ruling that barred the renaming of the Kennedy Centre. The centre's board voted to close the building temporarily for what it claims are necessary emergency renovations, but the renovations cannot commence until a higher court rules on whether Trump's name can be reinstated.

According to Trump, the "very large and complex" renovations cannot begin without a favorable ruling, or the centre will remain shut indefinitely. Since March, several high-profile artists have cancelled performances at the venue in protest of Trump's control, and ticket sales have reportedly been declining. The judge's decision comes after the board sought to install signage reading "renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump," which Cooper deemed illegal under his prior ruling.