The D.C. Circuit Court denied the Kennedy Center’s emergency request to pause a federal judge’s order removing President Trump’s name from the marble facade. The three‑judge panel ruled Friday, leaving the venue only hours to comply unless the Supreme Court intervenes. Scaffoldings already in place allow workers to take down the 18 letters by midnight.

Judge Christopher R. Cooper held that only Congress can rename the institution, citing the 1964 law dedicating it to John F. Kennedy. He ordered the center to restore the original name within two weeks and rejected Trump’s stay, noting the venue had already begun removing signage and updating digital assets. The decision threatens fundraising tied to the Trump branding, which secured $257 million for renovations.

With the official deadline looming, the center’s board faces an intense public relations scramble and potential donor backlash. Legal counsel argues that stripping the name now only to reinstate it later would confuse patrons and jeopardize future contributions. As the scaffolding stands, the removal proceeds, marking a rare instance where federal authority directly reshapes a landmark cultural institution’s identity.