Appeals Court Blocks Trump's Bid to Rename Kennedy Center
A federal appeals court denied President Donald Trump's request to restore his name to the Kennedy Center, affirming that the original renaming effort was unlawful.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a request by Donald Trump and the Kennedy Center's board of trustees to restore his name to the performing arts venue. The court ruled that the administration failed to provide specific evidence that the absence of the name would cause irreparable injury to fundraising efforts.
The legal dispute began in December 2025 after Trump renamed the institution "The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." Representative Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit arguing the change violated federal law, which established the center as a memorial to John F. Kennedy in 1964. In May 2026, Judge Casey Cooper ruled the renaming was unlawful because the administration did not obtain required congressional approval.
While Executive Director Matt Floca stated the lettering was removed by June 12, 2026, the building's facade remains covered in tarps and scaffolding. Judge Cooper has requested a status report on operations by the end of July and further justification for the ongoing obstruction of the building's exterior.
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