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Last week, a federal judge ordered the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “The Kennedy Center’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral say-so,” U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper wrote in his ruling. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”
As of yesterday, employees have begun complying to be in line with the law. “We are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership,” Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, told the AP. The Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted in December to rename the center.
Per Politico, a memo to Kennedy Center employees “states staffers must immediately change email signatures, letterhead, and other documents ‘to reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center.”’ This also includes voicemails, social media accounts and press releases. Changes to templates, forms, signage inside and outside the building, brochures and website pages with Trump’s name must be updated by June 12.”
In February of this year, Trump announced plans to shut down the Kennedy Center for two years; Judge Cooper’s ruling also reversed that decision. In a post on Truth Social after the ruling, Trump criticized the judge, and said “we are going to be working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it… Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey.”
It’s as yet unclear if Trump truly intends to give up on his project to remake the Kennedy Center.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.