A United States federal judge has ruled that Donald Trump’s name must be removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, concluding that the venue cannot be renamed without approval from Congress.

The decision, issued by District Judge Christopher Cooper, determined that the board overseeing the institution lacked the authority to change its official title unilaterally.

As a result, the centre must remove Trump’s name from its title, façade and all official materials within 14 days, reverting the institution to its original name, the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

The ruling comes after a controversial period for the cultural venue, during which its board voted to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The move triggered backlash from various artists and performers, several of whom reportedly cancelled appearances or boycotted the institution in protest, arguing it had moved away from its founding principles of non-partisan artistic expression.

Following the court’s decision, Trump criticised the ruling on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing the judge and what he described as the “radical left” of undermining efforts to reform the institution.

He also suggested he would work with Congress regarding the future governance of the centre, while expressing frustration over the requirement to remove his name.The Kennedy Center has indicated it intends to appeal the ruling.

Meanwhile, the dispute highlights broader tensions surrounding cultural institutions in Washington DC, including political influence over public arts organisations.

The controversy has also coincided with further artist withdrawals from related Trump-linked events, reflecting ongoing divisions within the entertainment industry.