Kennedy Center board says Trump name will not return before September 8
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The Kennedy Center board said in a Tuesday court filing it will not act before September 8 to reinscribe President Donald Trump's name on the building. Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty said she will ask a federal judge to block the move, citing 'naked defiance' of a May ruling that only Congress can rename the Washington venue.
Key Facts
- U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty said she will seek a court order to block the inscription of President Donald Trump's name, which could otherwise happen as early as September 8.
- The Kennedy Center board voted 20-3 on August 13 to alter the signage and name the grounds 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza.'
- The board said in a Tuesday joint court filing it had 'committed' to not taking further action before September 8.
- U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center.
- Trump's name was removed from the building's white marble facade in June, with a large tarp draped over the wall since then.
Court Filings
In a court filing late on Tuesday, Beatty said the board had acted in 'naked defiance' of Judge Cooper's prior decision in the case. Lawyers for the Trump administration said in the joint filing that they disagreed with Beatty's arguments and that 'the record will demonstrate the Board's prudence.' The board of trustees indicated in the same filing it had 'committed' to not taking further action before September 8, as legal arguments unfold. The plaintiffs warned the roughly three-week deadline was a pretext for further changes, writing 'this fire drill is entirely of Defendants' making.'
August 13 Board Action
The Kennedy Center board voted 20-3 on August 13 to alter the building's signage to read 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.' The board also voted to close the center for two years and name the grounds 'President Donald J. Trump Plaza.' Judge Cooper ruled in May that the board overstepped its authority by unilaterally renaming the site, saying 'Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.' Trump's name was removed from the building's white marble facade in June, and a large tarp has been draped over the wall since then.
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Kennedy Center board says Trump name will not return before September 8
