Kennedy Center board to appeal judge's order to remove Trump's name

Axios — Jun 12, 00:15 AM

The Kennedy Center plans to appeal https://www.axios.com/2026/05/29/trump-kennedy-center-name-removed-closure" target="_blank">a judge's order requiring President Trump's name to be removed from the performing arts center, according to multiple reports.

Why it matters: An appeal could extend the controversy over Trump's name and the future of the famed center.

Driving the news: The board of trustees https://www.axios.com/2026/05/29/trump-kennedy-center-name-removed-closure" target="_blank">appointed by Trump voted to pursue the appeal ahead of U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper's Friday deadline to remove the signage from the building in Washington, D.C., CNN first https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/11/politics/kennedy-center-appeal-trump-name" target="_blank">reported.

Cooper sided with a lawsuit brought by Rep. https://www.axios.com/2025/12/23/trump-kennedy-center-renaming-lawsuit" target="_blank">Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc" target="_blank">ruling ruling last month that the board had "overstepped its statutory bounds by unilaterally renaming the Kennedy Center after President Trump."

State of play: The center had indicated it would adhere to the ruling, this week removing Trump's name from its https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/kennedy-center-removes-trump-name-website-judge-order" target="_blank">website and social media accounts.

Spokesperson Roma Daravi https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/06/11/kennedy-center-board-fight-order-remove-trumps-name-deadline-looms/" target="_blank">told the Washington Post: "We are complying with the court's order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump's leadership."
Representatives for the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.