Kennedy Center Board Fights Order to Remove Trump's Name

The board of the Kennedy Center, appointed by President Donald Trump, is making a last-ditch effort to prevent the removal of his name from the performing arts facility's facade. A court order mandates the removal by Friday, but the board voted Thursday to seek a stay of the ruling.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center. He stated that only Congress has the authority to change the center's name and ordered all references to Trump be removed by Friday. The judge also blocked the administration from closing the venue for planned two-year renovations starting in July.

The board's formal request for a stay was filed late Thursday. This move contrasts with a June 4 memo from the Kennedy Center's Office of General Counsel, which instructed staff that all official documents, including email signatures and letterhead, must use "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or "Kennedy Center." The center's website has already removed Trump's name, and recent communications to members have omitted it.

Representatives for Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Congress and the American people, called the board's action "desperation" and vowed to contest the "latest ploy." They asserted that the Trump administration lacks a legal basis for its actions. Trump has exerted significant influence over the Kennedy Center since his return to office, replacing its previous leadership with a hand-picked board and naming himself chairman.

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The Trump administration's 11th hour gambit after waiting nearly two weeks evinces desperation. That is what they should be feeling because they don't have a legal leg to stand on. We will be vigorously contesting this latest ploy as we have throughout the case on behalf of Congresswoman Beatty and the American people.