Trump Loses Latest Appeals Court Bid to Restore Name to Kennedy Center

The ongoing saga of President Donald Trump’s attempts to restore his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has hit a snag, with a federal appeals court rejecting his bid to stay a lower court’s order stripping him of his eponymous honor.

Trump’s decision to add his name to the Kennedy Center’s facade was an attempt to curry favor with his base and assert his influence over cultural institutions that have long been seen as bastions of liberal elitism. However, it also highlighted the ways in which Trump has sought to co-opt and manipulate organizations for his own purposes.

The federal appeals court’s decision is a welcome development, particularly given the Kennedy Center’s organic statute, which limits the authority of its board. Judges Patricia Millett and Robert Wilkins, both appointed by former President Barack Obama, have shown a keen understanding of this statute in rejecting Trump’s bid to stay the lower court’s order.

However, the presence of Judge Gregory Katsas, who was appointed by Trump himself, on the appeals court panel raises questions about the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Can we trust that judges will uphold the rule of law when one of their own has a personal stake in the outcome?

The Kennedy Center’s travails also speak to a broader pattern of institutional loyalty and cronyism that has characterized Trump’s presidency. From his appointment of loyalists to key positions, to his attempts to rewrite the rules of government accountability, Trump has consistently demonstrated a disregard for the norms and conventions that govern our institutions.

The board of the Kennedy Center, which includes Rep. Joyce Beatty as an ex officio member, has been complicit in this effort, allowing Trump’s name to be added to its facade without so much as a whimper. This decision highlights the need for institutions to stand up against the whims of individuals who would seek to use them for their own purposes.

The implications of this decision go far beyond the Kennedy Center itself. They speak to a broader struggle for accountability and transparency in government, and the need for institutions to uphold their integrity in the face of external pressure. As we watch this drama unfold, let us remember that the true test of our democracy lies not in the ability of individuals to impose their will on institutions, but in the resilience and integrity of those institutions themselves.

Ultimately, Trump’s legacy at the Kennedy Center will be forever marked by this struggle. His name may eventually be restored, but it will be a hollow victory – a testament to the enduring power of ego and self-interest, rather than any genuine commitment to the arts or public service.