Donald Trump said that his administration will be working with Congress to transfer the Kennedy Center “back to them” in light of a federal judge’s ruling that the president’s name must be taken off the performing arts institution and blocking plans to close it for two years for renovations.
In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote that “based on the fact that the Radical Left Democrats care more about opposing your favorite President, ME, than saving a dying Performing Arts Center, almost all of which lose large amounts of money throughout the Country, we are going to be working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what Trump’s announcement would entail, but it suggested that he was backing off a future court battle.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on Friday that only Congress could change the name of the Kennedy Center, rebuking the Trump-controlled board for voting in December to add the president’s name to its facade and other materials. Cooper also concluded that the board failed to consider the full scope of impacts from a two year closure, even though he acknowledged that renovations were needed.
Trump blasted the judge in his post, writing, “Judge Cooper was given a presentation by leading Building and Construction Experts as to how structurally dangerous the Building is, with rotting beams, parking areas that are subject to collapse, and various other Life and Safety problems, in addition to the fact that it also needs a MAJOR renovation, from an aesthetic standpoint, but he was not “swayed,” and said he wants the Building to, incredibly, remain open and, therefore, dangerous. Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself! I cannot be involved with a situation where danger to the Public is allowed to flourish in plain and open sight.”
“Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND.’ There has never been a President of the United States who has been treated so unfairly by the Courts as I but, that’s OK, I will continue to do, what is considered to be, a great job for the wonderful people of our Country. I have instructed the Department of Commerce to make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution, giving them the responsibility for its Operation, Maintenance, and Management.”
