Kennedy Center: US Court Blocks Trump's Takeover

A US federal court has blocked Donald Trump's attempt to seize control of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The ruling, issued on June 11, 2026, by Judge James E. Boasberg of the District Court for the District of Columbia, grants a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's efforts to replace the center's board of trustees and install loyalists. The lawsuit was filed by the Kennedy Center's existing board, arguing that Trump's actions violated federal law governing the institution's independence. The court found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits, citing the Kennedy Center's enabling act which stipulates that the board is self-perpetuating and not subject to presidential removal. The decision halts Trump's plan to reshape the cultural institution, which he had criticized as 'woke' and 'anti-American.' The Kennedy Center, established in 1958, is a national performing arts venue that hosts over 2,000 performances annually. The Trump administration has indicated it will appeal the ruling.