The Kennedy Center board has appealed a federal judge’s order to remove President Trump’s name from the performing arts venue, vowing to defend the rebranding that a court ruled illegal. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center on May 29, and the board is now fighting to overturn that decision.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of operations, said in a statement that the board plans to appeal. “We are confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board’s will to recognize President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center,” Daravi said, according to USA Today.
In his 94-page opinion, Judge Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees violated the 1964 federal law that created the institution. The judge stated that only Congress has the authority to change the center’s name, which was established to honor President John F. Kennedy. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,” Cooper wrote.
The board voted in December to rename the center the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” and new signage reading “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” was installed on the building’s exterior within 24 hours. Judge Cooper ordered the name removed from the facade, website, and all official materials within 14 days.
The Justice Department also signaled plans to appeal the ruling. A DOJ spokesperson stated, “We will continue to defend President Trump’s ability to restore the Center to its former glory as the finest performing arts center in the country – if not the world.”
By June 8, the Kennedy Center had removed Trump’s name from its website and YouTube page, complying with the judge’s order. However, Trump’s name remained on the building’s exterior as the deadline approached and the appeal process began.
Judge Cooper also blocked the Trump administration’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for two years to conduct extensive renovations. The judge questioned whether the board had adequate information to make such a decision, noting that trustees learned of the closure plan through Trump’s Truth Social post on February 1, the same way the general public did.
The ruling became a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reshape federal institutions. Trump responded to the decision with a lengthy Truth Social post, saying he would work with Congress “to transfer this failing Institution back to them.” He criticized the judge and expressed frustration about the center’s condition, stating he had no interest in continuing involvement unless he could implement his vision for renovations and programming changes.
Sources
- USA Today — Judge’s order, board appeal announcement, and full ruling details
- The New York Times — Judge’s ruling and board’s appeal plans
- CNN — Kennedy Center removal of Trump’s name from website
- The Washington Post — Kennedy Center’s removal of Trump’s name from digital materials
