Judges Dismiss Trump's Bid to Restore Name at Kennedy Center

WHO:

CNN - Circuit Judges Patricia Millet and Robert Wilkins, both appointees of Barack Obama, and Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee, were on the panel considering the emergency appeal.

CNN - President Trump, Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca, Circuit Judges Patricia Millet, Robert Wilkins, Gregory Katsas, US District Judge Casey Cooper

WHAT:

CNN - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected Trump’s arguments that taking his name off the building would dampen fundraising efforts, stating the defendants "failed to support this assertion with any specific facts or evidence."

NPR - The appeals judges noted that Trump's legal team had not proven that the arts center would be "irreparably injured" without Trump's name attached.

CNN - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the Kennedy Center's board "failed to support this assertion with any specific facts or evidence" regarding the claim that removing Trump's name would lead to financial decline.

NPR - The appeals judges wrote that since Trump's name has already been removed, "a stay would not avert those harms."

NPR - Rep. Joyce Beatty stated, "Today's ruling again affirms that this administration's efforts to rename the Kennedy Center were unlawful. His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people."

CNN - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the Kennedy Center's board "failed to support this assertion with any specific facts or evidence" regarding financial decline due to the removal of Trump's name.

NPR - The appeals judges stated that Trump's legal team had not proven that the arts center would be "irreparably injured" without Trump's name attached.

NPR - The presiding judge, Christopher R. Cooper, has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide a status report on its operation and programming before the end of this month.

NPR - The Kennedy Center's calendar lists a small roster of programs, including outdoor free movie screenings, workshops for children, and five free live performances in July on its Millennium Stage.

CNN - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled against the Kennedy Center board's motion to stay a lower court's decision regarding the removal of Trump's name.

CNN - The appeals court stated that the defendants "failed to support this assertion with any specific facts or evidence" regarding the claim that removing Trump's name would lead to financial decline.

CNN - The appeals court noted that the defendants did not claim that the Kennedy Center's bylaws required the return of contributions unless Trump's name was reinstated during the district court proceedings.

CNN - A federal appeals court rejected Trump’s arguments to restore his name on the Kennedy Center.

Deadline - The appeals court denied a stay of a lower court order that required the Kennedy Center to remove Trump’s name.

CNN - Trump’s name was removed from the Kennedy Center building and its website as per a ruling by Judge Cooper.

CNN - The Kennedy Center has added new music programming at the Millennium Stage throughout July.

WHERE:

CNN - The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

ABC News - U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that Trump's name had to come down after the new Trump-controlled board voted in December to rename the building the "Trump-Kennedy Center."

CNN - The appeals court's decision was made after a previous ruling by Judge Cooper on May 29.

CNN - The next board meeting to discuss programming is expected as soon as next week.

WHY:

CNN - Trump argued that removing his name would dampen fundraising efforts for the Kennedy Center.

CNN - The appeals court noted that the defendants failed to support their claims with specific facts or evidence.

HOW:

CNN - The appeals court noted that the defendants never made the claim regarding the bylaws requiring the return of contributions during the district court proceedings.

CNN - US District Judge Casey Cooper has demanded an explanation from the Kennedy Center regarding the tarp and scaffolding covering the building's exterior signage.

CNN - Workers constructed scaffolding with tarp obstructing the facade of the Kennedy Center before Trump’s name was removed.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 15:56 UTC)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has rejected Trump’s arguments against removing his name from a building, stating that his legal team failed to provide specific evidence to support their claims about fundraising impacts. The panel, which included judges appointed by both Barack Obama and Trump, pointed out that Trump's team did not demonstrate that the arts center would suffer irreparable harm without his name. This decision follows a ruling from U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in May, which mandated the removal of Trump's name after a new board voted to rename the building the "Trump-Kennedy Center."

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 08:08 UTC)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled that the Kennedy Center's board did not provide sufficient evidence to support its claim that removing Trump's name would result in financial harm. The judges pointed out that since Trump's name has already been taken down, a stay would not prevent any alleged damages. Representative Joyce Beatty remarked that the ruling confirms the administration's attempts to rename the Kennedy Center were unlawful, stating that Trump's name no longer desecrates this memorial, which belongs to the American people.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 01:28 UTC)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled that the Kennedy Center's board did not provide sufficient evidence to support claims of financial decline linked to the removal of Trump's name. The judges also determined that Trump's legal team failed to demonstrate that the arts center would suffer "irreparable injury" without that name attached. In light of this ruling, presiding judge Christopher R. Cooper has ordered the Kennedy Center to submit a status report on its operations and programming by the end of this month, while its calendar currently features a limited selection of programs, including free movie screenings and live performances.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 18:25 UTC)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled against the Kennedy Center board's request to delay a lower court's decision to remove Trump's name from its signage. The appeals court found that the defendants did not provide specific facts or evidence to support their claim that this removal would result in financial decline, nor did they assert that the Kennedy Center's bylaws required the return of contributions if Trump's name was not reinstated. Additionally, U.S. District Judge Casey Cooper has requested an explanation from the Kennedy Center about the tarp and scaffolding currently covering the building's exterior signage.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 17:30 UTC)

A federal appeals court has rejected Trump’s arguments to restore his name on the Kennedy Center, following a ruling by Judge Cooper that mandated its removal from the building and website. The court also denied a stay of this lower court order, stating that the defendants did not provide sufficient evidence to support their claims. Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center is moving forward with new music programming at the Millennium Stage throughout July, with the next board meeting to discuss future programming expected as soon as next week.