Kennedy Center board files appeal to keep Trump name on venue
The Kennedy Center’s board has asked a federal judge to pause a ruling that ordered the removal of former President Donald Trump’s name from the performing-arts center’s facade.
The board of trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted Thursday to request a stay of U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s May 29 order that requires the removal of former President Donald Trump’s name from the building’s exterior. The formal request was filed late Thursday, a day before the court-ordered deadline.
Judge Cooper had ruled that only Congress could authorize a name change for the center and ordered that all references to Trump be removed by Friday. He also barred the administration from proceeding with a planned two-year renovation project slated to begin in July.
The board’s action follows a June 4 memorandum from the center’s Office of General Counsel directing staff to use the name "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or simply "Kennedy Center" on official communications. The center’s website and recent email invitations have already omitted Trump’s name.
"The Trump administration's 11th hour gambit after waiting nearly two weeks evinces desperation," said Norm Eisen, a board member of Democracy Defenders Action, and Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel at the Washington Litigation Group, in a statement on behalf of Rep. Joyce Beatty, who filed the lawsuit seeking the name’s removal.
Rep. Beatty, an ex-officio board member, is represented by the same legal team. The lawsuit argues that the name change must be enacted by Congress, not by the center’s board.
Trump’s influence over the Kennedy Center grew after he replaced its leadership early in his second term, appointing a board that named him chairman and installing Richard Grenell as president, later succeeded by Matt Floca. The venue has hosted events tied to the Trump administration, including the premiere of former first lady Melania Trump’s documentary.
The name change sparked a backlash from artists and cultural figures, with several withdrawing from scheduled appearances and resigning from advisory roles.
The board also adopted a resolution praising Trump’s "commitment to uphold this cherished American institution."
