The Daily Fuckup

A federal judge in Washington said the Kennedy Center overstepped its authority when it voted to attach Donald Trump’s name to the institution. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the center to remove the name from the façade and from official materials within two weeks, and he also issued preliminary relief that blocks steps toward the planned closure for renovations while the case continues.

The ruling is not a final judgment on the full lawsuit. Cooper said the court was acting on an emergency basis and limited the relief to the record before it. The order leaves the broader dispute in place, including whether the center’s board can revisit the closure decision later.

The case stems from Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center board and the board’s later vote to add his name to the venue. It also follows Trump’s announcement that the center would shut down for roughly two years for construction and what he described as a complete rebuilding. The judge said the plaintiff showed a sufficient basis for temporary relief while the court weighs the underlying claims.

Trump lashed out after the ruling, calling Cooper an “anti Trump Hater” and predicting the center would still be closed. But the court’s order does not do that. It requires the name to come down within two weeks and puts the closure steps on hold for now, without deciding the case for good.