Interior Secretary Won't Commit to Removing Trump Name from Kennedy Center Despite Court Order
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has not agreed to remove President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center, despite a directive from U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper requiring the reversal of the name change within two weeks. According to a statute from 1964, the center should be named exclusively after President John F. Kennedy. In December 2024, the board, entirely made up of Trump appointees, decided to rename it the "Trump Kennedy Center," a change announced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who credited Trump with "saving the building." Judge Cooper described the closure as "ill-informed." Several artists, including Kristy Lee and Lin-Manuel Miranda, have pulled out of performances in protest of the name change.
Key facts
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum would not commit to removing Trump's name from the Kennedy Center.
- Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the name change reversed within two weeks, citing the 1964 statute.
- The board voted in December 2024 to rename the center the 'Trump Kennedy Center'.
- Trump announced a two-year closure for renovations starting July 2025.
- Judge Cooper called the closure decision 'ill-informed and seemingly preordained'.
- Trump attacked Judge Cooper and his wife on Truth Social, claiming bias.
- Many artists withdrew from performances, including Hamilton producers and Chuck Redd.
- The center has undergone massive layoffs with more expected.
Entities
Artists
- Kristy Lee
- Chuck Redd
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
Institutions
- Kennedy Center
- Trump Kennedy Center
- The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts
- CNN
- Truth Social
- Hecker Fink
- Justice Department
- New York Times
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States