Judge Presses DOJ on Renaming Plan
At an emergency hearing Thursday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper questioned Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers about the Kennedy Center board's vote to add an inscription crediting President Donald Trump with the building's restoration and to rename the grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza" by Sept. 8. Cooper asked what was "magic" about that date, noting the rushed timeline forced both sides to work over Labor Day weekend.[S1][S2]
Mayers said the date was the board's chosen timetable. Cooper then asked whether adding Trump's name would violate federal appropriations rules against promoting a specific individual. Mayers argued it would not, because the honor was for Trump as president, not as board chairman. Cooper replied, "That's cutting it a little fine, isn't it?" Mayers insisted he was being true to the statute.[S2]
Plaintiffs Cite Previous Ruling
Lawyers for Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, argued that Cooper had already decided the issue in May when he ruled Trump's name was added illegally. Despite that ruling, the board voted in July to add the inscription and rename the grounds. Beatty's lawyer, Nathaniel Zelinsky, said the government's argument that only the plaza would be named after Trump was misleading, interpreting it as naming the whole thing for him.[S1]
Cooper agreed more information was needed about how the board reached its Aug. 13 resolution. He said he would issue a minute order outlining discovery instructions and urged the government to extend the Sept. 8 deadline. He noted the deadline suggested contractors were already hired and new lettering purchased.[S1]
Threats of Demolition and Financial Spiral
In a court filing, Mayers wrote that without prominent recognition of Trump's efforts, donors would not contribute, and the center would face a "financial and structural death spiral," potentially requiring demolition and replacement with an outdoor amphitheater. Beatty's attorneys countered that the financial problems stemmed from adding Trump's name in the first place, accusing defendants of threatening further damage to the memorial.[S2]
In the filing, Beatty's legal team characterized the defendants' communication as a threatening remark about the Kennedy Center, suggesting that harm could befall it. They described this as a severe violation of legal norms and as irrational. While Judge Cooper did not make a final decision on the matter, he indicated that he might issue a temporary stay on the September 8 date to ensure the issues were thoroughly examined.[S2]
