The legal battle over the naming of the Kennedy Center continued on Wednesday as a three-judge panel denied the institution’s board of trustees’ request to restore President Donald Trump’s name while they appeal an earlier decision. The previous ruling had declared the name change illegal, prompting a series of events that have drawn public attention.

Earlier this year, the Kennedy Center was renamed as “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” shortly after Trump appointed new trustees and was named chairman. This decision reflected Trump’s efforts to imprint his legacy in Washington, D.C., during his final term.

In their decision, the judges stated that the board did not demonstrate how they might face irreparable harm if Trump’s name remained off the building during the appeal process. The board’s argument centered on concerns about potential impacts on fundraising efforts, but lacked substantial evidence, according to the panel.

“His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people,”

These were the words of U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty from Ohio, who had filed the lawsuit. Her comments followed the decision and referenced tarps covering the building’s facade, where Trump’s name was removed amid legal contention.

The controversy arose from Trump’s appointment of new trustees in 2025, leading to swift actions to add his name to the building. However, a federal judge later deemed this change illegal, prompting the ongoing legal maneuvers.