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Federal Judge Orders Trump’s Name Removed from Kennedy Center

HeadlineJun 01, 2026

A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled Friday that Trump’s rebranding of the center to include his own name constituted an illegal act, writing, “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.” Judge Cooper also temporarily barred Trump from closing the Kennedy Center for what Trump has claimed are “renovations.” Trump announced a two-year closure after a wave of artists and performers resigned or canceled performances.

Meanwhile, President Trump has lashed out at prominent artists who’ve canceled plans to perform at the Great American State Fair — a series of events on the National Mall to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Several of the performers say they were misled by organizers and did not know of the event’s connections to Trump and his MAGA movement. Among those canceling are Young MC, Morris Day, Martina McBride, C+C Music Factory and The Commodores. In response, President Trump blasted the artists who dropped out as “third-rate” and said he might replace their performances by delivering a “major speech.” On social media, Trump referred to himself as “the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime.”

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