A U.S. judge blocks the display of Donald Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center

A U.S. federal judge ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s name cannot be displayed on the Kennedy Center building in Washington without congressional approval. District Judge Christopher Cooper determined that the board of trustees’ plans violate both a previous court ruling and federal law.

The decision concerns the proposal to place the inscription “Restored and renovated by President Donald J. Trump” on the center’s facade, as well as the initiative to rename the campus after the president. Cooper specified that monuments or other commemorative elements dedicated to Trump cannot be installed without legislative approval.

The ruling was issued before a meeting of the board, composed largely of Trump allies. Items concerning the addition of the president’s name were removed from the agenda, and members were expected to discuss only the possibility of closing the center for repairs.

The board approved the proposal on August 13 and intended to install the inscription this month, but attorneys announced that they would wait until October 8 to clarify its legality. The dispute is part of a lawsuit initiated by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who previously secured a block on renaming the Kennedy Center and its complete closure for work.