Judge Upholds Deadline to Remove President Trump's Name from Kennedy Center
A federal judge rejected a request to delay a court-ordered deadline for removing references to former President Donald Trump from the Kennedy Center, and an appeal by the venue was also denied.
A U.S. District Court judge on Friday refused to pause a court-ordered deadline that requires the Kennedy Center to eliminate references to former President Donald Trump from its building and related operations. The center’s appeal of the ruling was likewise rejected later that evening.
Scaffolding was installed around the portion of the façade that bears Trump’s name, but the deadline passed without the name being removed. Weather conditions, including thunderstorms, complicated removal efforts.
Trump, who appointed a new board of trustees and became chairman of the center early in his second term, had his name added to the venue shortly after assuming that role.
In his decision, Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress has the authority to change the Kennedy Center’s name and also barred the administration from closing the venue for a planned two-year renovation that was slated to begin in July.
The Kennedy Center argued in its appeal that the renovation is necessary to address structural concerns, stating:
"The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life-threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted, and in serious danger of falling onto people below. Indeed, total collapse!"
In compliance with the initial ruling, the center issued a memo on June 4 directing staff to use the name "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or simply "Kennedy Center" on email signatures, letterhead and other documents. The center’s website and recent communications have also omitted Trump’s name.
