Burgum Won't Commit to Removing Trump's Name From Kennedy Center

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told CNN he would not commit to removing President Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center and said he was "not sure if that’s going to be appealed or not."

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled the 1964 statute names the center for John F. Kennedy only, ordered Trump’s name removed within two weeks, and temporarily blocked the planned two‑year closure for renovations.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Judge Cooper and suggested without evidence that Cooper’s wife, attorney Amy Jeffress, influenced the ruling as he signaled he was stepping back from the renovation.

Shortly after returning to office in January 2025, Trump installed a handpicked board that in December voted to add his name and on March 16 voted to close the venue for an about two‑year renovation set to begin in July.

Judge Cooper called the board’s March 16 closure vote "ill‑informed and seemingly preordained," and his opinion said the board may reconsider closure only with sufficient independent information, leaving appeals and board decisions as next steps.