By — Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judges-deny-request-to-return-trumps-name-to-kennedy-center-pending-an-appeal Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Judges deny request to return Trump's name to Kennedy Center pending an appeal Politics Jul 8, 2026 4:22 PM EDT A three-judge panel on Wednesday denied a request from the Kennedy Center's board to restore President Donald Trump's name to the institution while the board appeals an earlier ruling that dubbed the name change illegal and had it rescinded. It's another setback for the board of trustees, of which Trump is chairman, in a saga that began earlier this year when the Kennedy Center became: "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." READ MORE: Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center building following court-ordered deadline The conspicuous addition, and ensuing legal battle, became symbolic of Trump's broader push to imprint his legacy — and, in this case, his actual name — on the nation's capital in his final term. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The panel of judges wrote Wednesday that the board of trustee's request "failed to show how they will be irreparably injured" if Trump's name remains off the building through the appeal process. The board had argued that the removal "threatens to impede" fundraising efforts, but the judges found that claim came without the support of "specific facts or evidence." The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. WATCH: Scaffolding goes up at Kennedy Center ahead of deadline to remove Trump's name "His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people," said U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio who filed the lawsuit. "Now it is time for the Trump administration to accept this, comply with the law, and take the tarps down." She was referring to tarps hung on scaffolding that had obscured the removal of Trump's name, and which still veil that part of the building's marble facade. When Trump first took office in 2025, he replaced the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, who then named him chairman. His name was quickly added to the building. A federal judge then ruled that the name change was illegal, prompting the ensuing legal battle. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press
A three-judge panel on Wednesday denied a request from the Kennedy Center's board to restore President Donald Trump's name to the institution while the board appeals an earlier ruling that dubbed the name change illegal and had it rescinded. It's another setback for the board of trustees, of which Trump is chairman, in a saga that began earlier this year when the Kennedy Center became: "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." READ MORE: Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center building following court-ordered deadline The conspicuous addition, and ensuing legal battle, became symbolic of Trump's broader push to imprint his legacy — and, in this case, his actual name — on the nation's capital in his final term. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The panel of judges wrote Wednesday that the board of trustee's request "failed to show how they will be irreparably injured" if Trump's name remains off the building through the appeal process. The board had argued that the removal "threatens to impede" fundraising efforts, but the judges found that claim came without the support of "specific facts or evidence." The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. WATCH: Scaffolding goes up at Kennedy Center ahead of deadline to remove Trump's name "His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people," said U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio who filed the lawsuit. "Now it is time for the Trump administration to accept this, comply with the law, and take the tarps down." She was referring to tarps hung on scaffolding that had obscured the removal of Trump's name, and which still veil that part of the building's marble facade. When Trump first took office in 2025, he replaced the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, who then named him chairman. His name was quickly added to the building. A federal judge then ruled that the name change was illegal, prompting the ensuing legal battle. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now