Kennedy Center Board Seeks Delay in Ruling on Trump's Name Removal

The board of the Kennedy Center is requesting a delay in a court ruling that mandates the removal of Donald Trump's name from the venue by Friday. This decision follows a vote on Thursday to seek a stay of U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper's ruling from May 29, which stated that only Congress has the authority to change the Kennedy Center's name. The formal request is expected to be filed on Friday. Judge Cooper's ruling also prevents the administration from closing the center for planned renovations set to begin in July. Previously, the Kennedy Center's Office of General Counsel had instructed staff to use the full name of the center without Trump's name. The center's website has also removed references to Trump, and recent communications have excluded his name. Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky, representing Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who filed the lawsuit, criticized the board's actions as desperate. The board had previously renamed the facility to include Trump's name, which has faced backlash from the arts community, resulting in several artists withdrawing from events.