WASHINGTON — The board of the Kennedy Center has asked a federal judge to delay a ruling ordering the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the performing arts venue before a Friday deadline, officials and court records said.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that the Trump-appointed board exceeded its authority by rebranding the facility as the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” without congressional approval. He ordered references to Trump to be removed from the building, signage and materials by June 12.
The board voted on Thursday to seek a stay of the order, with the formal request filed late that day, according to people familiar with the matter. The move came as scaffolding was erected at the center in preparation for potential removal work.
The Justice Department, representing the center, filed a notice of appeal and argued in court filings that the board had strong arguments for reversal and that immediate removal would cause unnecessary disruption.
The dispute stems from legislation passed by Congress in 1964 designating the center in honor of President John F. Kennedy. A lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat, challenged the renaming and proposed two-year closure for renovations.
Judge Cooper’s ruling also temporarily blocked the planned renovation closure. The Kennedy Center has already begun removing Trump’s name from its website and other digital references in compliance efforts.
A person familiar with the board’s deliberations said members were seeking to preserve the name pending appeal. Details on the full scope of physical changes required remained subject to the court’s final determinations.
"The Court has concluded that the Board overstepped its statutory bounds by unilaterally renaming the Kennedy Center after President Trump," Judge Cooper wrote in his May ruling.
On Friday, Judge Cooper denied the request for a stay, according to reports, clearing the way for removal work to proceed as the deadline passed. The board and administration indicated they would continue with the appeal process.
The case has drawn attention to the governance of the federally funded performing arts institution. As of Friday, scaffolding remained in place at the Kennedy Center, with physical removal of signage underway or imminent. Further proceedings in the appeal are expected in the coming weeks.
