Is Trump done with the Kennedy Center? A dramatic twist in the saga.

Even for an iconic venue known for its stage plays and musicals, May 29 was a dramatic day for the Kennedy Center.

A federal judge ordered that President Donald Trump's name be removed from the building's facade and halted planned renovations that would have closed the institution for two years. Trump blasted the order but appeared to abandon his wishes to redesign the building, writing in a social media post that he will transfer control of the venue to Congress.

"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,'" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president later said that without the renovations and his plans for the venue, "The Kennedy Center will soon be closed, probably never to open again."

It was the latest twist in Trump's monthslong campaign to overhaul the venue he's criticized for being too "woke." The center is also among several iconic buildings and cultural institutions in Washington that Trump has sought to redesign to his liking.

But despite Trump's pledge to hand control of the center to lawmakers, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy Center said an appeal would be filed by the venue's board, which is made up largely of Trump allies. The Justice Department also signaled plans to appeal.

With the fate of the cultural hub in limbo, here's what to know about the recent order and the administration's attempts to overhaul the venue.

Judge says Congress must approve name change, halts renovations

In his May 29 order, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper argued that the board's decision to change the name of the venue to the "Trump-Kennedy Center" went against the intention of lawmakers in 1964 to honor the late president John F. Kennedy.

“Congress made clear that the Kennedy Center would serve as both the nation’s premier performing arts center and a living memorial, the sole one dedicated to the late president in the Washington, D.C. area,” said Cooper, an appointee of former President Barack Obama.

He added that since Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, "only Congress can change it."

The order additionally halted renovations that would have shut down the building for two years. Cooper questioned whether the renovations could be carried out without closing the building and said the board had "no meaningful opportunity to consider perhaps the most momentous decision in the Center’s lifetime since it opened in 1971."

Trump on May 30 blasted Cooper's order, writing that his name was added to the center through a vote by "some of the most distinguished people in the Country." He also said the building needed to be shut down for significant renovations.

"It is not possible to have a major and very dangerous Construction job, including the replacement of structural beams, with audiences innocently going in to watch a Play," Trump said.

How Trump took control of the Kennedy Center

Renovating the Kennedy Center was among several projects Trump took up in his second term in his ongoing effort to redesign the nation's capital to his liking. Other projects include the White House ballroom, a triumphal arch and renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Trump in February terminated the Kennedy Center's board and installed himself as the new chairman while tapping several political allies as new board members. Trump chose Ric Grenell, his envoy for special missions, as the center's president.

The president complained about "woke" programming at the venue and promised to bring in better shows and musical acts while securing $257 million in federal dollars for renovations he said are badly needed.

In December, the center's board voted to rename the Kennedy Center the "Trump-Kennedy Center." In less than 24 hours, crews installed new signage on the building's exterior that reads "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."

In his ruling, Cooper ordered that Trump's name be removed from the exterior of the building as well as office materials within 14 days.

After Trump takeover, show cancellations pile up

Trump's efforts to transform the Kennedy Center led to a wave of show cancellations, with about two dozen artists backing out of scheduled performances.

Among the performers who canceled events were Renée Fleming, Béla Fleck, the Washington National Opera, a touring production of "Hamilton," Issa Rae, Kristy Lee and Wayne Tucker. Cast members from a performance of "Les Misérables" also boycotted an event at the center.

Weeks after Trump's name was added to the building, composer Phillip Glass canceled the world premiere of his "Lincoln" symphony at the storied institution.

"Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the symphony," Glass wrote in a statement. "Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership."

In a statement about the cancellations, Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the center, said "those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision."

"We have not cancelled a single show," Daravi added. "Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel, but the public wants artists to perform and create – not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division."

Contributing: Joey Garrison, Anna Kaufman and Edward Segarra of USA TODAY

Christopher Cann is a national news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on X @Chris__Cann.