Judge questions DOJ on expedited plan to add Trump’s name to Kennedy Center
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U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper probed Justice Department lawyers about the timeline and legality of a board decision to rename the Kennedy Center with President Donald J. Trump’s name, while the court considered a possible temporary hold on the September 8 deadline.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper pressed Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers on Thursday about the board’s plan to add the words “renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump” and rename the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza” by Sept. 8. The judge asked why the date seemed “expedited” and whether the naming would violate federal appropriations rules that bar the promotion of a specific individual within a federal agency. Mayers replied that the board had voted on the date and that the naming would honor Trump in his capacity as president, not as board chairman. Cooper noted the argument was “cutting it a little fine,” and said he was weighing a possible temporary pause on the deadline to fully consider the legal issues.
In a recent filing, the Justice Department argued that without prominent recognition of the Trump administration’s contributions, donors might withhold support, potentially leading to severe financial and structural problems for the center. The filing warned that continued deterioration could require demolition and replacement with a proposed outdoor amphitheater. Attorneys for Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member, countered that the center’s financial challenges stem from the earlier addition of Trump’s name and accused the defendants of threatening further damage to the memorial if their demands were not met.
Board minutes released to the court show Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick relaying that Trump, who had threatened to withdraw from the project after his name was removed, sought recognition for his fundraising and renovation commitments. Trump addressed the board virtually, emphasizing his intent to complete a $257 million renovation within two years. The board subsequently voted to honor his “current and future existential and unprecedented contributions” by adding his name to the building’s façade.
Beatty’s counsel argued that the naming effort defies a prior court order to remove Trump’s name from the front portico and that the funds for the renovation were appropriated by Congress, not raised by the president. Lutnick told reporters that the naming proposal is intended to encourage Trump to raise private donations, describing Trump as a “great philanthropist” who enjoys building projects.