Kennedy Center Board Challenges Judge's Ruling on Trump's Name Removal

Kennedy Center Board's Decision

The board of trustees at the Kennedy Center, comprised largely of supporters of former President Trump, convened on Thursday to discuss a federal judge's directive that mandates the removal of Trump's name from the iconic performing arts venue in Washington, D.C. US District Judge Casey Cooper determined that the board acted unlawfully by adding Trump's name to the center, which was previously known simply as the Kennedy Center. The judge has given the center a 14-day period to eliminate all mentions of the "Trump Kennedy Center" and the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" from both the building and its promotional materials.

Additionally, Judge Cooper stated that the center could continue with its planned renovations and might consider closing the venue, as long as the board thoroughly assessed the implications of maintaining some level of programming at all times.

Board's Actions During the Meeting

During their afternoon meeting, the board decided to file an appeal against Judge Cooper's ruling. According to sources familiar with the situation, the appeal is anticipated to be submitted on Friday. In the meantime, some measures to comply with the ruling had already begun; the center's legal counsel instructed staff to remove Trump's name from their email signatures, and the website logo was updated. However, as of Thursday, the exterior signage on the building remained unchanged.

Trump Participates Remotely

The meeting featured an unusual twist as Trump participated remotely, calling in from the Oval Office via Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's iPhone. A source likened the atmosphere to a scene from the political satire series Veep. During the discussion, Trump and Lutnick expressed their discontent with Judge Cooper and also criticized the judge's wife, Amy Jeffress, who had previously served as a personal attorney for President Joe Biden.

Resolution to Honor Trump

In addition to the appeal, the board passed a resolution formally recognizing Trump. This document acknowledged what it referred to as his "significant contributions," "deep commitment," and "unprecedented dedication" to the Kennedy Center.