Federal appeals court rules Trump's name must remain off Kennedy Center during ongoing legal challenge

Jul 8, 2026

A federal appeals court has unanimously rejected Donald Trump's bid to restore his name to the Kennedy Center while his legal appeal continues. The three-judge panel ruled that Trump and the center's board failed to prove that the removal of his name, which has already occurred, would cause irreparable financial or fundraising harm. The legal battle, initiated by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, follows a district court ruling that only Congress has the authority to rename the landmark.

Appeals court stay denial

▪The appeals court panel, consisting of Judges Gregory Katsas, Patricia Millett, and Robert Wilkins, ruled unanimously that Donald Trump and the Kennedy Center board failed to show they would be irreparably injured by the name's removal.
▪A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a request to restore Donald Trump's name to the Kennedy Center while his appeal of a lower court's order plays out.

Kennedy Center naming authority

▪U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked Donald Trump's plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations starting on July 4, 2026.
▪U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29, 2026, that the Kennedy Center's organic statute dictates the center must be named for President John F. Kennedy and cannot bear any other formal name based on the board's unilateral decision.

Trump board appointments

▪Donald Trump appointed himself as a trustee and became the chairman of the Kennedy Center board of trustees after replacing several trustees in 2025.
▪Following Donald Trump taking control of the Kennedy Center's board, ticket sales fell and several artists withdrew from scheduled performances.

Congressional lawsuit challenge

▪Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democratic ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board, filed the lawsuit against Donald Trump and the board to challenge the renaming of the center.
▪Representative Joyce Beatty stated that the appeals court ruling affirms that the Trump administration's efforts to rename the Kennedy Center were unlawful.

Fundraising harm arguments rejected

▪The appeals court rejected the Trump administration's argument that removing Donald Trump's name would harm fundraising, stating the claim lacked specific facts or evidence.
▪The appeals court rejected the argument that a new entity called 'The Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation' would have to return raised funds, noting the appellants failed to raise this contention in district court.