Donald Trump gives up control of the famous Kennedy Center after a legal setback

Donald Trump announced Friday May 29 that he would “work with Congress to transfer it” control of the Kennedy Center, a famous performance hall in Washington, after suffering a legal setback. The American president, much criticized by his opponents for his takeover of this historically neutral cultural institution, wants to entrust to the legislator “responsibility for its activity, maintenance and management”he wrote on his Truth Social network, in an angry message.

This about-face, on a project considered emblematic of the style and substance of the Republican’s second term, arrives after federal judge Christopher Cooper ordered that Donald Trump’s name be removed from the Kennedy Center and suspended the two-year closure of the performance hall, desired by the American president to carry out a vast renovation.

The 79-year-old billionaire, widely criticized by his opponents for his takeover of this historically neutral cultural institution, wants to entrust the legislator “the responsibility for its activity, its maintenance and its management”he wrote on his Truth Social network, in a long vindictive message. The judge”and the radical left prefer that (the Kennedy Center) DIE rather than see President Trump turn it into something everyone could be proud of.”he laments, before praising “all constructions, renovations and repairs” that he undertook in the American capital.

In addition to the planned architectural changes, the Kennedy Center had also taken, under the leadership of those close to Donald Trump placed at its head, a conservative turn in terms of programming. Some artists refused to perform there for this reason.

In December, the Republican president added his name to that of his assassinated distant Democratic predecessor John F. Kennedy to rename the place “Trump Kennedy Center”. This change was denounced by the family of President Kennedy and by the Democratic opposition who contest its legality. “The law creating the Kennedy Center clearly states that it must be named in honor of President Kennedy and cannot bear any other official name” without a decision by Congress, concluded Judge Christopher Cooper.

Accordingly, he ordered the Board of Trustees to remove any reference to the building itself, on the Kennedy Center website or any trademarks, “a“President Trump or any individual other than President Kennedy”. The judge emphasized in his ruling that the Kennedy Center was not “not only a national institution for the performing arts but also a presidential memorial” dédié à JFK.

Regarding the decision taken in March by the board of directors to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovation, he suspended it provisionally, considering that the board had failed in its “duty of care” by not taking into account the negative repercussions of this closure. The magistrate nevertheless authorized the continuation of planned repair work at the Kennedy Center, including “the need appears glaring”.

Since his return to power, the American president, determined to leave his lasting mark on the urban landscape of Washington, has launched several projects for which he is passionate. In particular, he undertook to build a gigantic ballroom at the White House and plans to build a gigantic arch in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This work is criticized by his opponents, for whom they are expensive projects intended above all to flatter his vanity.