The Kennedy Center plans to appeal a judge's order requiring President Trump's name to be removed from the performing arts center, according to multiple reports. The board of trustees, appointed by Trump, voted to pursue the appeal ahead of U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper's Friday deadline to remove signage from the building in Washington, D.C., CNN first reported. The move escalates the controversy over the naming and the institution's future.
Judge Cooper ruled last month that the board had "overstepped its statutory bounds by unilaterally renaming the Kennedy Center after President Trump." That decision came in response to a lawsuit brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the board. The ruling framed the issue as a question of statutory authority, not political symbolism.
The center had indicated it would comply with the ruling, removing Trump's name from its website and social media accounts this week. Spokesperson Roma Daravi told the Washington Post: "We are complying with the court's order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump's leadership." The appeal could delay any final decision for months.
An appeal could extend the controversy over Trump's name and the future of the famed center. The legal wrangling may leave the institution in limbo, affecting programming and donor relations. It also tests the board's ability to enact changes that align with presidential directives against statutory constraints.
The case highlights the tensions between political appointees and statutory governance of cultural landmarks. Opponents argue the renaming was a partisan move that overrode the center's nonpolitical mission, while supporters see it as recognizing presidential contributions.