A three-judge panel has denied a request to restore President Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center while the board of trustees appeals an earlier ruling that deemed the name change illegal. The decision marks another setback for the board, of which Trump is chairman, in a legal battle that began earlier this year when the center was renamed 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.'
The panel ruled that the board failed to demonstrate how it would be 'irreparably injured' if Trump’s name remained off the building during the appeal. The board had argued that the removal threatened fundraising efforts, but the judges found the claim lacked specific evidence.
The Kennedy Center’s name was removed from the building’s facade in June, and a tarp currently covers the area where Trump’s name was displayed. The appeals court also rejected the argument that a new foundation, 'The Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation,' would have to return funds if Trump’s name was not reinstated, noting the claim was not raised in the lower court.
The ruling means Trump’s name will remain absent from the center as the appeal proceeds. The case was initially filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who challenged the legality of the name change. The Kennedy Center has not yet responded to requests for comment.