Kennedy Center board seeks pause of ruling ordering removal of Trump’s name : NPR

WASHINGTON — The board appointed by President Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center is making a last-ditch attempt to keep his name on the building’s facade, ahead of a court-ordered deadline to remove it by Friday.

The board decided on Thursday to request a stay on U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s ruling from May 29, which declared that Trump’s name was unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center. This decision was shared by an anonymous source familiar with a private meeting, and the formal request was submitted late on Thursday.

Judge Cooper’s ruling stated that only Congress can change the Kennedy Center’s name and mandated that Trump’s name be removed by Friday. He also stopped the administration from proceeding with major renovations planned to begin in July and last for two years.

This decision marks a change from a June 4 memo by the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel, which instructed staff to use “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center” in email signatures, letterhead, and other documents.

The Kennedy Center’s website has already removed Trump’s name, and a recent email promoting ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony was sent without including Trump’s name.

“The Trump administration’s last-minute attempt, after nearly two weeks of delay, shows desperation,” said Norm Eisen, a board member at Democracy Defenders Action, and Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel at the Washington Litigation Group, in a statement. “They have no legal grounds to stand on, and we will continue to contest this on behalf of Congresswoman Beatty and the American people.”

They represent Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board, who filed the lawsuit to remove Trump’s name from the institution.

Despite largely ignoring the Kennedy Center during his first term, Trump has wielded significant influence over the venue since his return to office. Within a month of his second term, he replaced the previous leadership with a board of trustees that appointed him as chairman. Richard Grenell was brought in as president, a role he held until Matt Floca took over in March.

The center’s programming has reflected more Trump-friendly events, including the premiere of Melania Trump’s documentary, “Melania.”

The board also announced it had renamed the facility the Trump Kennedy Center, a change that scholars and lawmakers argue must be initiated by Congress, and physically added the president’s name to the building’s facade.

The reaction from the arts community was swift and intense. Numerous artists, including actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck, and author Louise Penny, withdrew from appearances, while consultants like musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned. Earlier this month, Jean Davidson, the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, left to head the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

In addition to voting on the stay on Thursday, the board supported a resolution recognizing Trump’s “commitment to uphold this cherished American institution.”