A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled that Donald Trump cannot keep his name on the Kennedy Center's facade while the institution appeals a lower court order requiring its removal. The decision, issued Wednesday, denies the Kennedy Center board of trustees' request to maintain the president's name pending appeal.
Background of the Renaming Dispute
The institution was renamed The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts earlier this year. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that the renaming was illegal, stating only Congress has authority to rename the centre and ordering Trump's name removed. The Trump administration complied after failing to block the ruling, removing the name from the facade and signage last month, though the change remains hidden under a tarp.
The board, chaired by Trump, argued that removal threatened fundraising efforts. However, the appeals panel wrote that the board "failed to show how they will be irreparably injured" if Trump’s name remains off the building through the appeal process, noting the claim lacked "specific facts or evidence."
Legal Challenge by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty
The original lawsuit was brought by Joyce Beatty, a Democratic representative from Ohio and Kennedy Center board member. Reacting to Wednesday's ruling, Beatty said: "Today’s ruling again affirms that this administration’s efforts to rename the Kennedy Center were unlawful." She added: "His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people. Now it is time for the Trump administration to accept this, comply with the law, and take the tarps down."
When Trump first took office in 2025, he replaced the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, who then named him chairman. The renaming effort has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it politicizes a cultural institution dedicated to President John F. Kennedy.
Public Reaction and Next Steps
Last month, onlookers gathered on the plaza in front of the centre hoping to witness the signage removal, but a tarp concealed the work. The appeals process continues, but the court's ruling means Trump's name will remain off the building for now. The board could seek further review, but the panel's decision underscores the legal challenges facing the Trump administration's attempt to rebrand the Kennedy Center.
