Trump Administration Appeals Judge’s Order on Kennedy Center Name Removal

The Trump administration has decided to appeal a judicial order that mandates the removal of President Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center. This appeal notice was submitted on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Earlier in the day, the Kennedy Center board, chosen by Mr. Trump, voted to request a stay of U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s ruling from May 29. This decision, shared by a person familiar with the private meeting, stated that the addition of Mr. Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center was unlawful. The source, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, revealed that the formal stay will be filed on Friday.

Judge Cooper had ruled the previous month that only Congress holds the authority to change the name of the Kennedy Center. Consequently, he ordered the removal of Trump’s name by Friday and prohibited any major renovations planned for the venue, which were set to commence in July and span two years.

This decision marks a shift from a June 4 memorandum circulated among Kennedy Center staff from the Office of General Counsel. The memo instructed that email signatures, letterhead, and other official documents should reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or simply “Kennedy Center.” The Kennedy Center’s website also excluded the president’s name, and an email sent earlier this week about ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony was devoid of Trump’s name.

Representative Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat and ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board, participated in the meeting and opposed the decision to seek a stay. “I look forward to putting these distractions behind us and focusing on supporting the arts and the future of the Center,” Larsen stated.

During his second term, Mr. Trump has exerted significant influence over the Kennedy Center. A month into his term, he replaced the center’s leadership with a board of trustees that named him chairman and included Trump-friendly programming. Notably, the center hosted first lady Melania Trump’s documentary premiere.

The board announced the renaming of the facility as the Trump Kennedy Center, a change that experts argue requires Congressional approval, and physically added Trump’s name to the building’s facade.

The arts community reacted swiftly and negatively. Numerous artists, including Issa Rae, Bela Fleck, and Louise Penny, withdrew from appearances. Consultants such as Ben Folds and Renée Fleming resigned, and Jean Davidson, executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, left for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

Additionally, the board passed a resolution on Thursday acknowledging Trump’s “commitment to uphold this cherished American institution.”