<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> has lashed out at a judge who ruled that </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-says-hes-firing-kennedy-center-board-of-trustees-members-and-naming-himself-chairman/83d07dc3-13d9-41a8-aa7b-13927068ebd4" rel="" target="" title="arts institute The Kennedy Centre"><span>arts institute The Kennedy Centre</span></a><span> could not be renamed after him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US president lashed out on Truth Social after Judge Christopher Cooper ordered </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/kennedy-centre-renamed-trump-more-artists-cancelling-appearances-there/ab14241d-72d6-4a08-a16d-0f509f83eae8" rel="" target="" title="his name to be taken off the venue"><span>his name to be taken off the venue</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cooper said the Kennedy Centre cannot be renamed without congressional authorisation.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-freedom-250-concert-lineup-acts-names-bands-pulling-out-young-mc-commodores/0ab6cb17-18c6-4dff-8ee1-934b9dc9f258"><strong><span>Musicians back out of Trump's Washington concert after widespread criticism</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"May the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts be renamed absent Congressional authorisation?" the judge wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The answer, plain from the face of the statute, is no."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cooper also blocked the Trump administration from closing the venue for renovations.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-kennedy-centre-judge-orders-renaming-illegal-cancels-closure-president-lashes-out/d4d3fa5a-198b-4555-b244-3f7ef8622bfa" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In December the board of trustees appointed by the president voted to rename it The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump had fired the previous board and appointed himself chairman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump then closed the centre after an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/usa-donald-trump-kennedy-centre-criticises-artist-who-cancelled-performance/34f9abc5-6ce4-468e-b6cc-d438ffc2818c" rel="" target="" title="exodus of musicians who were scheduled to perform there"><span>exodus of musicians who were scheduled to perform there</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a 582-word post on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-truth-social-ai-images-conspiracy-theories-qanon-usa-world-news/beb24052-03a8-4ba5-a175-d3450cd3a196" rel="" target="" title="Truth Social"><span>Truth Social</span></a><span> this morning, Trump raged at the judge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself!" he wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump then announced he was not going to be involved in renovations of the building, even though he described it as "structurally dangerous".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I cannot be involved with a situation where danger to the Public is allowed to flourish in plain and open sight. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.'"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-250-bill-face-mugshot-treasury-scott-bessent-money-currency-usa-politics-news/42b7ada3-6be9-49b2-b2dc-667582a8541a"><strong><span>US government pushes to put Donald Trump's face on new $250 bill</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said he had directed his staff to transfer control of the Kennedy Centre to Congress.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democrats have celebrated the judge's decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Trump tried to slap his name on the Kennedy Centre like it was one of his tacky hotels," Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Kennedy Centre belongs to the American people. Now and always."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Trump Administration set aside close to $A7 million to have four prominent statues in Washington DC coated in gold.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The four bronze horses surrounding the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/march-on-washington-commemoration-jacob-blake-protests-crowds-black-lives-matter/251d63c3-9057-4a1f-8c12-1106c3d3857f" rel="" target="" title="Lincoln Memorial"><span>Lincoln Memorial</span></a><span> will receive a thick 23.75-karat gold leaf coating after a non-bid contract was awarded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This comes from the same administration that said we don't have enough money for cancer research or to feed hungry kids," Democratic Representative Dwight Evans said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/e-jean-carroll-criminal-investigation-rape-trial-donald-trump-rapist-usa-politics-news/960c7be4-81dc-4559-b9fc-35967c1ca619"><strong><span>Trump's Justice Department investigating his rape accuser</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>