A US federal appeals court has rejected a request to halt the removal of former President Donald Trump's name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. With this ruling, the lower court's order to remove the name will remain in effect throughout the appeal process.
A three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals turned down the Trump administration's request. The board had argued that it would suffer "irreparable harm" if the decision was not stayed. However, the court stated that this claim was not supported by sufficient evidence.
The board had suggested that removing Trump's name would hinder fundraising efforts. But the judges emphasized that these concerns were not backed by "concrete evidence or proof."
The lawsuit was filed by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, a member of the Kennedy Center board. Beatty commented that the appeals court's decision "once again confirms that this administration's efforts to rename the Kennedy Center are unlawful." Beatty stated that Trump's name no longer "defiles this sacred monument that belongs to the American people."
When Trump took office in 2025, he replaced the Kennedy Center's board and had himself elected chairman. His name was quickly added to the building, but federal judge Christopher Cooper ruled the name change illegal, struck it down, and ordered the name removed. This legal process has become a symbolic battle over Trump's efforts to shape his legacy in the capital.