{"id":2608437,"date":"2026-05-29T20:11:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T00:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-is-judge-christopher-cooper-who-blocked-trumps-kennedy-center-plans\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T20:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T00:12:58","slug":"who-is-judge-christopher-cooper-who-blocked-trumps-kennedy-center-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-is-judge-christopher-cooper-who-blocked-trumps-kennedy-center-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Judge Christopher Cooper, who blocked Trump&#8217;s Kennedy Center plans?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwho-is-judge-christopher-cooper-who-blocked-trumps-kennedy-center-plans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608437&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked President Donald Trump\u2019s planned two-year renovation of the John F. Kennedy Center that was set too begin July 5 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-posts-bond-in-ny-civil-fraud-case-preventing-seizure-of-his-assets\/\" title=\"... posts bond in New York civil fraud case to protect his as...s from seizure\">ordered trump\u2019<\/a>s name removed from the center\u2019s theater and related branding within 14 days. The judge\u2019s ruling effectively halted the renovation.<\/p>\n<p>Trump and Cooper have been at odds politically: Cooper was nominated to the bench by barack Obama, and Trump has called him a \u201cRadical Left Democrat.\u201d The article also notes Cooper has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >handled earlier matters connected<\/a> to Trump-era events, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/j6-mystery-questions-swirl-about-why-defendant-samuel-lazar-was-convicted-sentenced-in-secret-report\/\" title=\"Questions surround the secret conviction and sentencing of defendant Samuel Lazar in J6 mystery.\">including sentencing<\/a> a Jan. 6 Capitol riot participant after finding he was more than a bystander. It adds that Cooper\u2019s wife, Amy Jeffress, later became a personal attorney for Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<p>The piece describes Trump\u2019s reaction as aggressive, saying he was \u201cnot swayed\u201d by arguments including alleged structural and life-safety concerns, and accusing Cooper of endangering the building. As of the ruling, the renovation is no longer proceeding.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"260\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>, delivered a blow on Friday to President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s planned two-year renovation for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kennedy-center\/\">John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts<\/a>, previously set to commence on July 5, and ordered the president\u2019s name to be removed from the arts center.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Judge Cooper was nominated to the bench in 2014 by then-President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"360\">Barack Obama<\/a> and subsequently confirmed by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> in a unanimous vote. Trump grouped Cooper among the \u201cRadical Left Democrats\u201d in a Truth Social post, due to his association with Obama.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4587976\/judge-prevents-kennedy-center-closure-forces-trump-name-removal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump slams judge for reversing Kennedy Center name change and blocking closure<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4587695\/des-moines-superintendent-sentenced-two-years-prison\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Former Des Moines superintendent sentenced to two years in prison<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4587681\/indictment-shooting-secret-service-washington-monument\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Texas man indicted for shooting at Secret Service agent near Washington Monument<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from the Kennedy Center lawsuit, Cooper has presided over cases tangentially related to Trump, including the prosecutions of defendants who took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Judge Christopher Cooper of the District Court of Washington, D.C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In one such case, the judge sentenced Christopher Alberts of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maryland\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"49\">Maryland<\/a> to seven years in prison in 2023 for entering the U.S. Capitol armed with a loaded handgun and attacking police officers with a wooden pallet. When Alberts claimed he didn\u2019t want to hurt anyone, Cooper said he was one of the leaders of the mob during the riot that day and \u201cnot simply a bystander.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among hundreds of Jan. 6 riot participants, Alberts was later pardoned by Trump once he returned to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooper also has ties to former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"471\">Joe Biden<\/a> through his wife, Amy Jeffress. She became Biden\u2019s new personal attorney last year, replacing Bob Bauer. Jeffress was involved in behind-the-scenes work for the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/07\/23\/amy-jeffress-joe-biden-lawyer-00470811\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/07\/23\/amy-jeffress-joe-biden-lawyer-00470811\">according to<\/a> <em>Politico<\/em>. Besides her experience in private law practice, she worked for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a> from 1996 to 2014.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287972\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287972.50.0_1.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287972\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287972.50.0_1.pdf\">94-page ruling<\/a> struck a nerve with Trump, who penned a lengthy screed criticizing Cooper for keeping the building open despite hearing the federal government\u2019s reasoning for the closure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJudge 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 \u2018swayed,\u2019 and said he wants the Building to, incredibly, remain open and, therefore, dangerous,\u201d the president <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116659958155235373\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116659958155235373\">posted<\/a> on Truth Social.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump told Cooper to \u201cbe ashamed of himself\u201d following the ruling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4587976\/judge-prevents-kennedy-center-closure-forces-trump-name-removal\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4587976\/judge-prevents-kennedy-center-closure-forces-trump-name-removal\/\">TRUMP SLAMS JUDGE FOR REVERSING KENNEDY CENTER NAME CHANGE AND BLOCKING CLOSURE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI took great pride in taking over a losing Institution, and looked forward to making it into a Great and Prestigious WINNER for Washington, D.C., and indeed, the United States of America,\u201d he added. \u201cUnfortunately, Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Handing down the ruling on former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-f-kennedy\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4031\">John F. Kennedy<\/a>\u2018s 109th birthday, Cooper ordered the administration to remove Trump\u2019s name from the theater, website, and other branding within 14 days. As of now, the planned two-year renovation is no longer moving forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. judge halts Trump\u2019s Kennedy Center renovation and orders his name removed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2608438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/christopher-cooper-kennedy-center-collage-e1780097464478.jpg?1780083054&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80486,8062,4151,50057,3634],"class_list":["post-2608437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-christopher-cooper","tag-constitution","tag-judiciary","tag-kennedy-center","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/christopher-cooper-kennedy-center-collage-e1780097464478.jpg?1780083054&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608437"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608441,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608437\/revisions\/2608441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}