Trump reignites Kennedy Center repair fight, revives clash with Judge over his plans
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has once again reignited the Kennedy Center’s repair fight with a Truth Social post, claiming the institution is falling apart and accusing a judge of preventing him from fixing the historic site.
The Kennedy Center’s spokesperson announced on Friday, Oct 2, that its annual honors ceremony would move to another venue after the board decided to close the center for renovations amid safety concerns.
Trump post reignites Kennedy Center repair fight as he lashes out at judge
Writing a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Oct 4, President Donald Trump reignited the Kennedy Center’s repair fight and appeared to renew his push to have his name added to the venue.
He also lashed out at US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who blocked the planned two-year closure of the center and ruled against the board’s decision to add Trump’s name to the venue. Trump also criticized Cooper’s wife, Amy Jeffress.
The Kennedy Center is crumbling, and a great danger to anyone who walks inside. It’s been this way for years, and will only get worse unless the Radical Left Judge, with his Trump Hating lawyer wife, allows me to do what must be done! President DONALD J. TRUMP ( TS: Oct 4 2026, 1:08 PM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 4, 2026
Cooper is the federal judge who blocked President Donald Trump and his appointed Board of Trustees from proceeding with a planned two-year closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump argued that the Centre had been crumbling for years, but claimed the judge was preventing him from addressing the problem.
“The Kennedy Center is crumbling, and a great danger to anyone who walks inside. It’s been this way for years, and will only get worse unless the Radical Left Judge, with his Trump-hating lawyer wife, allows me to do what must be done.”
President also added a photo from a portion of Kennedy Centre showing partials of falling plaster on the floor. “The Kennedy Centre is literally falling apart,” was written on the image.
Judge Cooper faces Trump’s wrath for stopping renaming of Kennedy Centre
President Trump has publicly targeted Judge Cooper on social media, labeling him a "radical-left Trump hater" and criticizing the judge’s wife, Amy Jeffress.
The controversy began after the Centre’s board, whose membership includes Trump appointees, voted to rename the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
In May 2026, Judge Cooper ruled that the renaming violated the 1964 organic statute, declaring that only Congress has the legal authority to change the federal memorial's name.
Cooper ordered that Trump’s name should be removed from the facility, website, and branding as well.
Judge Cooper issued an injunction blocking a planned two-year closure for a $257 million renovation.
While observing the verdict, Cooper said that the Trump-aligned board failed to assess the harm the total shutdown would cause to the center’s performances and finances.
