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Judge considers Kennedy Center board's push to put Trump's name back on building
Confirmed
Lawyers for Beatty, who sued last year over Mr. Trump's changes to the Kennedy Center, argue that the board's recent efforts to recognize the president violate federal law, and they asked U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to issue emergency relief blocking the changes.
Ahead of the hearing, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he had "no idea" whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to tear down the center, and called adding Mr. Trump's name to parts of the center's campus "the right thing to do.
He said the Kennedy Center board moved to inscribe Mr. Trump's name in the facade and plaza because of ongoing and future fundraising efforts by the president to supplement congressional funds for the center. Nathaniel Zelinsky, a lawyer representing Beatty, called the board's vote to again put Mr. Trump's name on the center "deja vu" and an act of "outright defiance" of an order from Cooper earlier this year that barred the center's closure and ordered Mr. Trump's name to be removed from the building.
Cooper ruled that Congress made it “crystal clear” that the memorial is only to be named after the assassinated former president, “and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial” based on Trump’s “unilateral say-so.
“In plain English, Defendants have not-so-subtly said: ‘What a nice Kennedy Center you have here. The board also voted to name the places where the building stands after Trump.
Earlier this month, the board voted once again to put the president’s name on the building. "Without those efforts, the Center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down, with a determination to follow on what to build on the site, such as a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River that has been proposed, by some, for many years," lawyers for the federal government wrote.
Still, he also questioned lawyers for both sides on whether he still has jurisdiction over the case, since the Trump administration appealed his earlier decision in favor of Beatty. "President Trump is a successful fundraiser," Mayers said.
The Justice Department had argued in filings that the center's "dangerously dilapidated, outdated, and decrepit" conditions and millions of dollars in financial losses put the living memorial to President John F. Justice Department lawyers argued that the venue faces financial deterioration and potential demolition without Trump's proposed renovation plan and fundraising backing.
What's confirmed
- Nathaniel Zelinsky, a lawyer representing Beatty, called the board's vote to again put Mr. Trump's name on the center "deja vu" and an act of "outright defiance" of an order from Cooper earlier this year that barred…
- Earlier this month, the board voted once again to put the president’s name on the building.
- Lawyers for Beatty, who sued last year over Mr.
- Ahead of the hearing, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he had "no idea" whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to tear down the center, and called adding Mr.
- He said the Kennedy Center board moved to inscribe Mr.
- Cooper ruled that Congress made it “crystal clear” that the memorial is only to be named after the assassinated former president, “and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial” based on Trump’s “unilateral
What's still developing
- Lawyers for Beatty, who sued last year over Mr. Trump's changes to the Kennedy Center, argue that the board's recent efforts to recognize the president violate federal law, and they asked U.S. District Judge…
- "They are doing the same thing they were told they couldn't do before," Zelinsky said, calling the board's move this month an "attempt to end-run your order.
- Zelinsky has said that the marble on the building was damaged as a result of the new inscription.
- He said the Kennedy Center board moved to inscribe Mr. Trump's name in the facade and plaza because of ongoing and future fundraising efforts by the president to supplement congressional funds for the center.
- "President Trump is a successful fundraiser," Mayers said.
- The Justice Department had argued in filings that the center's "dangerously dilapidated, outdated, and decrepit" conditions and millions of dollars in financial losses put the living memorial to President John F.
- "Without those efforts, the Center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down, with a determination to follow on what to build on the site, such as a large…
- Still, he also questioned lawyers for both sides on whether he still has jurisdiction over the case, since the Trump administration appealed his earlier decision in favor of Beatty.