Judge Rules to Remove Trump’s Name from Kennedy Center

A federal judge cleared the way on Friday for the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center. This decision comes after the institution’s board’s last-minute effort to keep the name in place was denied.

If the Kennedy Center chooses not to appeal District Judge Christopher Cooper’s ruling, Trump’s name could be taken off the building within hours. Workers have been seen setting up scaffolding around the section of the building that bears Trump’s name, while about a dozen people nearby were chanting for its removal.

The center’s spokesperson declined to comment on the ruling. Last month, Judge Cooper concluded that Trump’s name was added illegally to Washington’s iconic performing arts venue. As soon as Thursday evening, the board appointed by Trump tried to sustain the name on the facade, but Cooper refused to halt his order.

A memorandum dated June 4, sent by the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel to the staff, indicates that emails, letterheads, and other documents should reflect the name as ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ or ‘Kennedy Center.’

The Kennedy Center’s website no longer displays Trump’s name. A previous email to members, offering ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony, came from the Kennedy Center without referencing Trump’s name.

Although Trump largely ignored the Kennedy Center during his first term, he has wielded significant influence over it since returning to office. Just a month into his second term, he dismissed the previous management and replaced them with a new board of trustees that appointed him president.

In his earlier decision, Judge Cooper also halted a government plan to close the cultural and artistic venue for major renovations scheduled to begin in July and last two years.

“This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative AI tool.”