WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied the Trump administration’s request to stay the district court’s order in Beatty v. Trump. In response, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03), Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action, and Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel at Washington Litigation Group, issued the following statements. Eisen and Zelinsky represent Beatty in the case:

“Today’s ruling again affirms that this administration’s efforts to rename the Kennedy Center were unlawful,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3). “His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people. Now it is time for the Trump administration to accept this, comply with the law, and take the tarps down.”

“The D.C. Circuit’s decision means Donald Trump’s name will remain off the Kennedy Center for the foreseeable future, exactly as the law requires, and as Congress intended when it established it,” said Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action, and Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel at Washington Litigation Group. “This is a great win for the rule of law and the American people's decision to honor John F. Kennedy's memory. It is also a clear reminder that public institutions are not personal branding opportunities for any president. The court rejected this last-minute effort to undo the district court’s order, and the Kennedy Center remains the Kennedy Center. We are proud to represent our client, Rep. Joyce Beatty, who had the foresight and courage to fight this from day one.”

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Democracy Defenders Action brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.