DOJ appeals Kennedy Center ruling ahead of deadline to remove Trump’s name
The Department of Justice has filed a notice of appeal to challenge a ruling that found President Donald Trump’s attempt to rename and close the Kennedy Center for renovations illegal. The court had ordered Trump’s name to be removed from the building and grounds, as well as the center’s website, within 14 days.
Although Trump’s name has been removed from the website and YouTube page, it still remains on the building itself. Trump’s lawyers stated that they are assessing their litigation strategy in response to the ruling. Trump took to social media to express his frustration, stating that he would rather turn decision-making over to Congress than continue the legal battle.
The judge ruled that renaming the Kennedy Center as the “Trump Kennedy Center” violated the law, emphasizing that only Congress has the authority to change the institution’s name. The judge also criticized the decision to close the center for renovations, calling it “ill-informed” and “seemingly preordained.”
The Kennedy Center was established by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Trump announced in December that the Board of Trustees, which he now chairs, had voted to rename the building in his honor. However, the decision was met with legal challenges, including a lawsuit brought by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, a member of the Board of Trustees.
The legal battle over the Kennedy Center’s name change and renovation plans continues as the Department of Justice appeals the court’s ruling. The future of the iconic performing arts center remains uncertain as the case unfolds in the judicial system.
