Trump says he will 'transfer' Kennedy Center to Congress after US court setback

U.S. President Donald Trump stated Friday that his administration will transfer control of the Kennedy Center to Congress, a move that follows a federal judge's order to remove Trump's name from the iconic Washington performing arts venue.

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make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution

Earlier on Friday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the center, which Trump had renamed the "Trump Kennedy Center," could not be renamed without an act of Congress. The judge directed the administration to remove all signage bearing Trump's name and to eliminate references to the "Trump Kennedy Center" from official materials within 14 days.

Cooper's decision also halted the Trump administration's plan to close the Kennedy Center for a two-year renovation period, though he noted that necessary repairs could proceed. The judge emphasized that the center's "organic statute" clearly designates it as a memorial to President Kennedy and that its name cannot be altered by the Board of Trustees alone.

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The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board's unilateral say-so.

Trump announced his intention to transfer control via social media, instructing the Commerce Department to arrange the transfer with Congress. The directive aims to give lawmakers responsibility for the venue's operation, maintenance, and management. The specifics of how this transfer would be executed remain unclear, as the Kennedy Center was established by Congress in 1958 and is managed by a board appointed by the president.

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Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.

The judge's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Ohio Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, a member of the Kennedy Center's board. Beatty celebrated the decision, stating the center "belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump." Trump, however, expressed concerns about public safety if renovations proceed without a closure, calling Cooper's order to keep the center open "dangerous."

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The Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump.