The Kennedy Center has established a new endowment in former President Donald Trump's name, despite a court order requiring the removal of his name from the building. The board of trustees, chaired by Trump and largely composed of his allies, voted unanimously to create the Trump Kennedy Center Fund during a Thursday meeting. The fund will support existing private endowments and the center's $257 million in federal funding.
The decision comes as the Kennedy Center complied with a D.C. District Court judge's ruling to revert to its original name. The center removed Trump's name from the building over the weekend, following the court's directive. The administration had filed an emergency appeal to stay the ruling, but it was rejected. The board also voted to file a separate appeal to challenge the judge's decision.
Roma Davari, Vice President of Public Relations at the Kennedy Center, stated that the center remains compliant with the court's directive while evaluating legal options. The Trump Kennedy Center Fund is intended to recognize Trump's contributions to the institution and further its mission. A Kennedy Center official told CBS News that the fund is a landmark commitment to securing the center's future and artistic legacy.
A source familiar with the plans suggested the endowment will focus on addressing the building's physical disrepair, which the current board believes has been neglected. In a court filing, the administration argued that reverting to the original name would require refunding donations made to The Trump Kennedy Center.
The removal of Trump's name was carried out overnight, with crews prying the lettering off the building and concealing the work behind scaffolding and a tarp. The operation was covered live by several media outlets, including former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, who compared the event to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, who brought the lawsuit, called the administration's appeal frivolous.