Judge halts Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ payouts; orders name removed from Kennedy Center
A US judge has temporarily blocked payouts from Donald Trump's "anti-weaponization" settlement fund and ordered his name removed from the Kennedy Center, citing legal violations.
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A U.S. federal judge has mandated the removal of former President Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the institution's Board of Trustees overstepped its authority when it unilaterally voted in December 2025 to rename the center to include Trump's name, asserting that only Congress has the power to alter the center's official designation.
The May 29, 2026, ruling also issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the Kennedy Center's planned two-year closure for extensive renovations. This decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the center's board, challenging both the name change and the closure plans. Following the ruling, Trump indicated he would consider withdrawing his involvement with the center and suggested that Congress should assume responsibility for its operation.
What each outlet emphasizes
- CNN: initially reported on Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund'.
- BBC: reports the judge's order to remove Trump's name from the Kennedy Center and halt the fund.
- AJ: notes Trump's pledge to withdraw from the Kennedy Center after the court decision.
- AP: details the judge's ruling on both the Kennedy Center name removal and the temporary block on fund payouts.
Read it at the source
washingtonpost.com ↗ courthousenews.com ↗ theguardian.com ↗ forbes.com ↗ capradio.org ↗