Workers begin removing Trump's name from Kennedy Center early Saturday morning, after judge's order
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Workers began removing President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center after a court-ordered deadline, but thunderstorms delayed the process, causing the name to remain on the building past midnight.
- U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the name was illegally added and ordered its removal by June 12, also blocking the Trump administration's plan to close the center for renovations for two years.
- The Trump administration's last-minute requests to stay the removal order were denied by both the district court and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which called for further briefing later in the month.
- The administration argued that removing the name now would cause public confusion and harm fundraising efforts, while opponents accused the government of delaying tactics and insisted the court's order be followed promptly.
- The Kennedy Center, originally established as a memorial to John F. Kennedy, had been renamed by a Trump-aligned board in December, but the court ruled only Congress can authorize such a name change.