Trump’s Kennedy Center board files last-ditch appeal to keep his name on facade
The board of the Kennedy Center, hand-picked by Donald Trump, voted Thursday to seek a stay of a court order requiring the removal of Trump’s name from the building by Friday. This move is a last-minute effort before the deadline.
The hand-picked board of the Kennedy Center voted on Thursday to appeal a court ruling that ordered the removal of Donald Trump’s name from the performing arts venue’s facade. The formal stay request will be filed on Friday, just before the court-issued deadline, according to a person familiar with the private meeting.
The board’s decision is a response to a May 29 ruling by US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who determined that Trump’s name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center. Cooper stated that only Congress has the authority to change the center’s name and ordered all references to Trump removed by Friday. He also blocked the administration’s plan to close the venue for major renovations starting in July.
This move contradicts a June 4 memo from the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel, which instructed staff to use “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center” in email signatures, letterheads, and other official documents. The center’s website has already removed Trump’s name, and a recent email to members about ticket packages omitted the president’s name.
Trump, who largely ignored the Kennedy Center during his first term, has exerted significant influence since returning to office. Within a month of his second term, he ousted the previous leadership and installed a loyal board of trustees that named him chairman. He appointed Ric Grenell as president, a role later taken over by Matt Floca in March.
The center’s programming has shifted toward more Trump-friendly events, including the premiere of first lady Melania Trump’s documentary, “Melania.” The board also renamed the facility the Trump Kennedy Center and physically added Trump’s name to the building’s facade—a change scholars and lawmakers argue requires congressional approval.
The arts community reacted swiftly: actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck, and author Louise Penny withdrew from appearances; consultants Ben Folds and Renée Fleming resigned. Earlier this month, National Symphony Orchestra executive director Jean Davidson left to lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
In addition to the stay vote, the board passed a resolution recognizing Trump’s “commitment to uphold this cherished American institution.”
