Topline
The Kennedy Center has proposed 10 different ways it might inscribe President Donald Trump’s name on the venue’s marble facade, according to court documents, including one that thanks Trump for his “unwavering support” and another that credits his “generosity” for the survival of the institution.
The Kennedy Center has proposed 10 ways it might inscribe Trump’s name on the marble facade. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Associated Press
Key Facts
Court documents filed Monday by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who sued the Trump administration in December over its attempt to include Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center, include draft resolutions the Kennedy Center intends to present at a board meeting on Tuesday, where it plans a vote on selecting the language of an inscription honoring Trump.
One of the draft resolutions includes 10 different options for the text of an inscription the Kennedy Center plans to make on the marble facade thanking Trump for his fundraising efforts, which the center has said are crucial for its financial survival.
Among the options for the Trump inscription are one that says, “A Legacy protected through the Generosity of President Donald J. Trump,” and another that thanks Trump for his “unwavering support” of the center.
Beatty said she submitted the Kennedy Center board’s draft resolutions to the court because they are relevant to a motion she made last month for the court to block the Kennedy Center’s plan to inscribe Trump’s name.
A federal judge ruled months ago the Kennedy Center board cannot change its name to include Trump without an act of Congress, and Beatty has argued the planned inscription of Trump’s name is an attempt to sidestep the judge’s ruling.
Read The Kennedy Center’s 10 Proposals For Inscription Thanking Trump
- “Renovation and endowment overseen by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund”
- “Renovation Restoration and Endowment overseen by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund”
- “With Gratitude for Support from President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund”
- “Renovation and Restoration directed by President Donald J. Trump and endowment provided by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund”
- “Restoration and endowment overseen by President Donald J. Trump and endowment provided by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund”
- “A Legacy protected through the Generosity of President Donald J. Trump”
- “Renovated, restored, and sustained through the generosity of President Donald J. Trump”
- “Renovation, oversight, and support provided by President Donald J. Trump”
- “Acknowledging the unwavering support of President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund”
- “Renovation, Restoration, and support by President Donald J. Trump”
what to watch for
A court hearing in the Kennedy Center case is scheduled for Tuesday morning. The Kennedy Center board also has a meeting planned for Tuesday afternoon. A federal judge has yet to rule on Beatty’s motion to block the Kennedy Center from inscribing Trump’s name on the venue’s marble facade.
What Else Do The Kennedy Center’s Draft Resolutions Say?
The Kennedy Center’s draft resolution on the inscription of Trump’s name justifies the move by crediting Trump for saving the institution from “certain fiscal collapse,” which the board suggests could happen within weeks. “President Trump has offered to step in and raise the necessary funds to keep the Center from bankruptcy during its much needed renovation,” the resolution says. The document claims the Kennedy Center’s financial situation is so dire that it will not be able to pay employees or pay maintenance contracts “within a matter of weeks.” The Kennedy Center, which is fighting in court to reinstate Trump’s name, said in the document it would “undertake all legal means to effectuate one or more of the following public recognitions or acknowledgements to the President.” Another draft Kennedy Center resolution Beatty included in her submission to the court details the board’s plan to hold another vote to shut down the venue to patrons to begin “immediate repair and restoration work.”
key background
The Kennedy Center’s board voted last month to inscribe Trump’s name on the building, arguing Trump’s fundraising efforts are contingent upon him being honored on the facade. In a court filing last month, the Kennedy Center’s lawyers suggested the structure may need to be torn down if Trump’s name is not added, claiming donors will not contribute unless he is recognized. Beatty filed a still-pending motion to block the inscription, calling it a “breathtaking act of defiance of Congress and of this Court.” In May, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled the Kennedy Center must remove Trump from the venue’s name, saying a federal law makes “crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy.”
further reading
Kennedy Center Board Warns Of Immediate Closure Unless Trump’s Name Goes On Building, Report Says (Forbes)
Judge Asked To Block Kennedy Center From Inscribing Trump’s Name (Forbes)
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