The Kennedy Center emphasized that it remains committed to recognizing President Donald Trump while facing a court order mandating the institution reverse a name change honoring the president.
A federal court handed down a decision in late May, ruling that Trump’s name must be removed from the Kennedy Center within two weeks, after his name was added to the title in December. Kennedy Center leadership responded that it would comply with the court order but still seek to recognize Trump.
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“We are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership,” Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, said.
The development comes after U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper on May 29 said Kennedy Center’s board exceeded its authority when it unanimously voted to add Trump’s name to the center in December. The judge said congressional approval is required to change the institution’s name, meaning the center’s signage bearing Trump’s name must be removed. The judge also blocked the theater’s planned closure for extensive renovations, which Trump had warned were badly needed.
The president expressed disappointment after the court decision.
“Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of,” he posted on Truth Social. “We are going to be working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it.”
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The Kennedy Center’s lawyers on Thursday began taking steps to remove Trump’s name from all official signage by June 12, in compliance with the court order, according to NBC News and multiple other outlets.
Staff were told in an email from the Office of the General Counsel to “Remove any references to the ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ or ‘The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,’ and instead revert to ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ or ‘the Kennedy Center’ or ‘the Center.’” The directive also applies to email signatures, letterhead, signage, brochures, and website pages, per the outlet.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Kennedy Center for more details about the name removal.
