Court denies emergency appeal to retain Trump’s name on Kennedy Center
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A Washington DC appeals court rejected an emergency appeal to pause the removal of Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center facade, following a judge's order that it was illegally added.
- US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress can change the Kennedy Center's name, ordering the removal of Trump's name within two weeks and halting the center's planned summer closure for renovations.
- The Kennedy Center began scaffolding and preparations to remove Trump's name, but work was temporarily paused due to a thunderstorm; a supportive crowd gathered to witness the removal efforts.
- The renaming of the center to include Trump, approved by his handpicked board in December, faced widespread criticism as narcissistic and anti-democratic, with many locals and artists opposing the change.
- The controversy stems from Trump's influence over the center during his presidency, including replacing board members and leadership, which led to significant changes and artist departures from the venue.