Federal judge orders Trump’s name removed from Kennedy Center
A federal judge has ruled that the rebranding was illegal and ordered President Donald Trump’s name removed from the Kennedy Center.
WASHINGTON — Lawyers for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have directed center officials to remove signs and other materials with President Donald Trump’s name in the facility’s title by June 12 to comply with a judge’s order.
In a June 4 memo obtained by USA TODAY, the center’s lawyers instructed employees to immediately change their email signatures, letterhead and other documents to reflect the name “John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center.”
The memo says other changes to signage, templates, forms, brochures and website pages, such as removing Trump’s name from the building’s facade, must be completed by Friday, June 12 at the latest.
The memo follows a May 29 opinion by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordering Trump’s name to be removed from the Kennedy Center’s ownership within 14 days, including removing signs and removing Trump’s name from all official materials. A judge ruled that the president’s name was illegally added to the center.
The Trump administration said it would appeal the ruling, but shortly after the ruling Trump announced plans to transfer control of the center to Congress.
“We are complying with the court’s order and evaluating all legal options to maintain this activation and recognize President Trump’s leadership,” Roman Daravi, the center’s vice president of communications, said in a statement.
In December, the center’s board of directors voted to change the name of the Kennedy Center to the Trump Kennedy Center. Less than 24 hours after the action, a new sign was installed on the outside of the building reading “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Performing Arts Center.”
Cooper, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, which is made up mostly of Trump supporters, is violating a 1964 federal law that established the center to honor the 35th president, which makes clear that “the Kennedy Center must be named for and is intended to honor only President Kennedy.”
Kennedy Center ‘considering options’ after judge blocks closure for two years
In his ruling, Cooper also overturned President Trump’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for two years, scheduled to begin in July, to accommodate major renovations to the building.
Lawyers for the center argued in a memo that while the judge did not rule against the concept of temporarily closing the center, the board’s vote was “improper and a subsequent vote should consider more information.”
“The court did not rule that the center must remain open during the renovation, nor did it require that the center present any specific programs on-site during the renovation,” the memo to Kennedy Center staff said. “The Center is considering its options and will provide further guidance in the near future.”
The closure was approved by the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees in a March vote. In a 94-page opinion, Cooper questioned the reliability of the center’s executive director, Matt Floca,’s conclusion that renovations cannot be made without shutting down public facilities.
The judge also said the center’s board had “no meaningful say” on the issue when it voted to close on March 16. President Trump had already announced his closure plans on Truth Social on February 1st.
X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.
