A federal judge expressed skepticism Thursday about the Kennedy Center’s plan to add President Donald Trump’s name to the historic performing arts venue, and the Trump administration announced in a late-evening court filing that it will delay the effort until at least October 8, 2026.
During a two-hour hearing before U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., the Justice Department defended the Kennedy Center board’s August 13 resolution to inscribe “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” on the building’s facade, along with plans to rename the plaza after Trump. Cooper questioned the urgency of the timeline and suggested he might impose a temporary order blocking the move if the center did not voluntarily pause.
The delay marks a significant retreat from the board’s initial plan to begin the inscription work as soon as September 8. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose wife sits on the Kennedy Center board, told reporters outside the courthouse that the center’s physical future depends on securing Trump-related donations and that demolition would be an “eventuality” without renovations—though he emphasized no immediate action was planned.
This dispute stems from Judge Cooper’s May 29 ruling that the board had illegally added Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center earlier this year. Cooper sided with Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the board, finding that only Congress could authorize a change to the institution’s official name under a 1964 federal statute establishing the center as a memorial to John F. Kennedy. Trump’s name was removed from the building in June 2026 after the court order.
The Board’s Second Attempt and Legal Challenge
The August 13 board vote sought to sidestep the judge’s earlier ruling by framing the change as an inscription honoring Trump’s contributions to renovations, not a formal renaming. The board voted 20-3 to add the inscription, and also approved a two-year closure for extensive repairs. A second inscription referencing Trump could be added if an endowment reaches $100 million, according to board filings.
Beatty’s attorney, Nathaniel Zelinsky, argued Thursday that the new proposal was “part and parcel” of the same illegal renaming scheme the judge had already blocked. He accused the board of “outright defiance” and warned the judge that the center might attempt the inscription work “in the middle of the night” to circumvent court oversight. Zelinsky pointed to damage from the previous inscription effort, noting that workers had drilled into marble when adding Trump’s name before.
Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers countered that there was “no renaming here,” arguing that the Kennedy Center would remain a memorial to Kennedy while also acknowledging Trump’s role in securing private donations for repairs. Cooper, however, expressed doubt about this framing, asking whether the board’s logic would allow it to name every parcel of the complex—from a parking garage to a plaza—after any figure it chose.
The judge also dismissed the administration’s threat that the center might face demolition if blocked from renovating. “That may be great atmospherics,” Cooper told Mayers, “but I gotta say, the first four or five pages of your brief seem to be a non-sequitur. We’re here to discuss whether the board’s resolution was consistent with my order and consistent with the statutes.”
Cooper indicated he needs time to rule on the merits and asked both sides to delay implementation. The DOJ’s filing late Thursday evening committing to the October 8 date appears designed to give the judge the breathing room he requested while preserving the administration’s ability to move forward once he issues a final decision.
Sources
- CNN — Reported the Kennedy Center board’s commitment to delay until October 8 and detailed Judge Cooper’s skepticism during Thursday’s hearing, including his questions about the board’s legal authority and Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s demolition comments.
- ABC News — Confirmed the DOJ filing stating the effort will “not be effectuated before October 8, 2026,” and reported Zelinsky’s accusations of defiance and Cooper’s dismissal of the demolition threat.
- The Washington Post — Documented Judge Cooper’s skepticism about the Kennedy Center’s timeline and his questioning of the Justice Department’s rationale.
- Reuters — Covered the Justice Department’s defense of the board’s August 13 resolution and the legal dispute over whether the inscription violates prior court orders.
- PBS NewsHour — Reported on Judge Cooper’s prior May 29 ruling that Trump’s name was added illegally and his finding that only Congress could authorize a name change.
