Trump Administration Defends Kennedy Center Renaming in Court Filing

The Trump administration submitted a court filing on August 24 defending the Kennedy Center's recent decision to reinstate President Donald Trump's name on its facade, arguing it does not breach a federal judge's prior order.

Lawyers urged U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to dismiss a fresh legal challenge from Democratic board member Rep. Joyce Beatty, who seeks to prevent the addition of Trump’s name.

The dispute centers on whether the Trump-appointed board has the authority to alter the venue's name, originally designated by Congress as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.

In mid-August, the Kennedy Center's board voted 20-3 to change the building's signage to read "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump" and to name its grounds the "President Donald J.

Trump Plaza." This move followed a May ruling by Judge Cooper that only Congress can rename the center, ordering removal of Trump’s name from the marble facade.

Rep. Beatty, whose board membership stems from her congressional role, filed suit last year after the center initially altered the facade to include Trump’s name alongside Kennedy’s. Judge Cooper ruled the center must honor Kennedy alone, emphasizing Congress’s exclusive authority over the name.

Trump’s name was removed in June, with a tarp covering the facade since then. An appeals court recently denied the administration's request to keep the name displayed during ongoing appeals.

The administration’s filing contends the new inscription does not violate the injunction because the building’s official name remains the John F. Kennedy Center. It stated the phrase "Restored and Renovated by" recognizes Trump’s contribution without renaming the venue.

"Such acknowledgements of major donors are ubiquitous in similar facilities," the filing said.

Beatty’s legal counsel Nathaniel Zelinsky criticized the filing, saying, "this filing — which reads like it was written personally by Donald Trump — is legally baseless."

Judge Cooper has scheduled a hearing for August 27 to consider Beatty’s request to block the installation of Trump’s name on the facade.