Trump knocks ‘highly conflicted’ judge in Kennedy Center case

President Trump on Sunday knocked U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who has overseen the case over the Kennedy Center and the president’s attempts to refurbish and rename the living memorial, as “highly conflicted.”

“Kennedy Center is an old and decrepit building that is badly in need of a major construction and public relations fix before it can attain greatness and prestige, perhaps far greater than ever before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social .

“It has been losing a fortune for many years, and will continue to do so if the highly conflicted judge on the case doesn’t allow us to do what has to be done!” he added.

Cooper, appointed by former President Obama, ruled that Trump’s name cannot be added to the building, having ordered the lettering outside the building to be removed . He said that only Congress can change the center’s name, as the building was established by Congress as a living memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.

The signage outside the building was covered with a tarp .

Trump’s description of the building mirrors those said by Justice Department attorney Brantley T. Mayers, who said in court filings last Monday that the Kennedy Center was a “decrepit” structure in severe need of renovations or demolition .

The administration has said the building is in need of extensive repairs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday that the planned renovation is expected to cost $257 million.

Lutnick also floated the idea of adding Trump’s name to the building by means of an acknowledgment stating that the president renovated the building.

“Underneath the name of the building, which will remain the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump,” he said.

The Kennedy Center board, having agreed to hold off on renewing Trump’s name to the performing arts center, voted to add an inscription underneath the Kennedy Center’s name that reads: “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the center’s board who has successfully challenged Trump’s proposed changes to building in court, said Saturday that the legal battle could prevent Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center.

“This started back in December of 2025, so I’m a little more hopeful with this because we are in court,” Beatty said on MS NOW. “He may have thought about doing it when he was ordered to take his name down. So I think there is a slight difference.