The board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a body largely appointed by Donald Trump, is mounting a final attempt to retain his name on the facade of the Washington D.C. cultural institution. This action precedes a looming court-mandated deadline of Friday to remove all references to Trump from the venue, following a judicial finding that the inclusion of his name was unlawful.
During a meeting on Thursday, the board voted to seek a stay on the ruling issued by US District Judge Christopher Cooper on 29th May. Judge Cooper's decision stipulated that the addition of Trump's name to the Kennedy Center was illegal, asserting that only the US Congress holds the authority to formally alter the name of the federally chartered institution. The formal application for the stay is expected to be filed on Friday.
This development marks a notable shift from earlier directives issued by the Kennedy Center's Office of General Counsel. A memo circulated to staff on 4th June had instructed that all official communications, including email signatures and letterhead, should revert to using 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' or 'Kennedy Center'. Furthermore, the venue's official website has already removed the former president's name, and recent promotional emails for ticket packages have omitted any reference to Trump.
Donald Trump has exerted considerable influence over the Kennedy Center since his return to office. Just one month into his second term, he reportedly replaced the previous leadership, installing a hand-picked board of trustees and appointing himself as chairman. Subsequent appointments included Ric Grenell as president, a role later assumed by Matt Floca. This period has also seen a shift in programming, with the venue hosting events perceived as more aligned with Trump's political base, such as the premiere of Melania Trump's documentary.
The board's earlier decision to rename the facility the 'Trump Kennedy Center' and physically add his name to the building's exterior sparked significant controversy within the arts community and among legal scholars. Critics argued that such a change required congressional approval. The fallout included several prominent artists, such as actor Issa Rae and musician Bela Fleck, withdrawing from scheduled appearances, while consultants like Ben Folds and Renée Fleming resigned in protest. In addition to seeking the stay, the board also passed a resolution on Thursday acknowledging Trump's "commitment to uphold this cherished American institution."