President Donald Trump said Friday that he has no intention of continuing his efforts to reshape the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after a federal judge ruled that major changes to the institution require congressional approval.

In a social media post responding to the decision, Trump said he would leave future decisions about the Kennedy Center to Congress.

“Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else — restore this institution physically, financially and artistically — I have no interest in continuing what would be a hopeless journey,” Trump wrote.

He added that his administration would work with Congress to determine the future of the performing arts center, arguing that political opposition had hindered efforts to revitalize the institution.

The comments came hours after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the administration lacked the legal authority to rename the Kennedy Center or move forward with plans that would significantly alter the venue without congressional authorization.

In his decision, Cooper found that the effort to rebrand the facility as the “Trump Kennedy Center” violated federal law. He ordered that Trump’s name be removed from the building and related materials within two weeks.

The judge cited actions including the installation of signage bearing Trump’s name, changes to the center’s website, and the distribution of official materials identifying the venue with the president’s name.

“Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,” Cooper wrote in the ruling.

The Kennedy Center was established by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy following his assassination. As a congressionally chartered institution, any official name change must be approved through legislation.

The ruling represents a significant setback for Trump’s plans to remake the renowned cultural institution and places any future changes firmly in the hands of Congress.