WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center board voted on Thursday to seek a stay of a May 29 ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper. Cooper ruled that Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the center.
The judge stated that only Congress could institute a change to the center's name. Cooper ordered that references to Trump be removed by Friday. The board's formal request for a stay will be filed on Friday.
The board renamed the facility the Trump Kennedy Center and added Trump's name to the building's facade. Trump replaced the center's previous leadership with a new board of trustees, and the board named him chairman one month into his second term. The board also backed a resolution recognizing Trump's "commitment to uphold this cherished American institution."
Trump appointed Ric Grenell as president of the center. Grenell served as president until March, when Matt Floca assumed the role. The center hosted the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's documentary, Melania.
Following these changes, actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck, and author Louise Penny withdrew from appearances at the center. Consultant and musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned from their roles. Additionally, Jean Davidson, executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, left her position to head the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the facility for major renovations planned to begin in July and last for two years.
A June 4 memo from the center's Office of General Counsel instructed staff to use the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or Kennedy Center on email signatures, letterhead, and other documents. The website no longer displays Trump's name. An email sent to members regarding ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony also used the center name without including Trump's name.
No independent assessment was available for this report.