No president treated so unfairly by courts as I: Trump slams Kennedy Center ruling
Trump's criticism comes amid a series of court setbacks for his administration, including legal challenges to his tariff policies, immigration measures, federal workforce changes and executive actions.
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at a federal judge who ordered the removal of his name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, saying no American president has been treated more unfairly by the courts than he has.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump criticised US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ruled that the Kennedy Center cannot be officially renamed without congressional approval and blocked plans to close the institution for large-scale renovations.
“There has never been a President of the United States who has been treated so unfairly by the Courts as I,” Trump wrote, while insisting he would continue working for the country despite what he described as repeated judicial interference.
The President also announced that his administration would work with Congress to transfer responsibility for the Kennedy Center back to Congress. He said he had instructed the Department of Commerce to make arrangements for a “full and complete transfer” of the institution’s operation, maintenance and management.
Trump defended his efforts to overhaul the Kennedy Center, claiming the venue had suffered from years of neglect, financial losses and poor maintenance before his administration became involved. According to him, the centre had lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the years and required major structural and aesthetic upgrades.
The president argued that a 36-member board of trustees had unanimously approved adding his name to the institution, but Judge Cooper ruled that the board lacked the authority to make such a change and ordered the removal of the Trump name from the venue.
Trump also accused the judge of disregarding warnings from construction and engineering experts about alleged safety concerns at the building. He claimed the facility faced structural problems, including deteriorating beams and parking areas that could pose risks to the public, and argued that keeping it open without major renovations was irresponsible.
“Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself,” Trump wrote, accusing the judge and his political opponents of prioritising opposition to him over preserving the performing arts institution.
The dispute stems from a court ruling that found the Kennedy Center’s name, established by Congress in honour of former President John F. Kennedy, cannot be altered through a board decision alone. The judge held that only Congress has the authority to formally rename the institution.
Trump said he had taken pride in trying to revive what he called a struggling institution and had hoped to transform it into a premier cultural venue for Washington and the nation. However, he suggested he would no longer pursue that effort unless his administration was given greater freedom to carry out its renovation plans.
Trump's criticism comes amid a series of court setbacks for his administration, including legal challenges to his tariff policies, immigration measures, federal workforce changes and executive actions. Several courts have blocked or limited parts of his agenda, setting up high-profile legal battles over the scope of presidential authority.
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at a federal judge who ordered the removal of his name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, saying no American president has been treated more unfairly by the courts than he has.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump criticised US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ruled that the Kennedy Center cannot be officially renamed without congressional approval and blocked plans to close the institution for large-scale renovations.
“There has never been a President of the United States who has been treated so unfairly by the Courts as I,” Trump wrote, while insisting he would continue working for the country despite what he described as repeated judicial interference.
The President also announced that his administration would work with Congress to transfer responsibility for the Kennedy Center back to Congress. He said he had instructed the Department of Commerce to make arrangements for a “full and complete transfer” of the institution’s operation, maintenance and management.
Trump defended his efforts to overhaul the Kennedy Center, claiming the venue had suffered from years of neglect, financial losses and poor maintenance before his administration became involved. According to him, the centre had lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the years and required major structural and aesthetic upgrades.
The president argued that a 36-member board of trustees had unanimously approved adding his name to the institution, but Judge Cooper ruled that the board lacked the authority to make such a change and ordered the removal of the Trump name from the venue.
Trump also accused the judge of disregarding warnings from construction and engineering experts about alleged safety concerns at the building. He claimed the facility faced structural problems, including deteriorating beams and parking areas that could pose risks to the public, and argued that keeping it open without major renovations was irresponsible.
“Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself,” Trump wrote, accusing the judge and his political opponents of prioritising opposition to him over preserving the performing arts institution.
The dispute stems from a court ruling that found the Kennedy Center’s name, established by Congress in honour of former President John F. Kennedy, cannot be altered through a board decision alone. The judge held that only Congress has the authority to formally rename the institution.
Trump said he had taken pride in trying to revive what he called a struggling institution and had hoped to transform it into a premier cultural venue for Washington and the nation. However, he suggested he would no longer pursue that effort unless his administration was given greater freedom to carry out its renovation plans.
Trump's criticism comes amid a series of court setbacks for his administration, including legal challenges to his tariff policies, immigration measures, federal workforce changes and executive actions. Several courts have blocked or limited parts of his agenda, setting up high-profile legal battles over the scope of presidential authority.
