Kennedy Center removes Trump's name after court order, live-streams demolition

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. has officially removed Donald Trump's name from its building, restoring its original designation after a federal court ordered the change. The center live-streamed the removal of the prominent signage, making the process public.

In a filing with the federal court on June 13, the Kennedy Center's Chief Operating Officer confirmed that all physical signs bearing Trump's name had been removed from the building and grounds. While scaffolding and tarps temporarily obscured the facade during the removal, the center's original name, 'John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,' has been reinstated.

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Today's victory is the starting point for returning the Kennedy Center to the American people.

This action follows a May court order that invalidated the renaming of the center to 'Trump Center,' deeming the process procedurally flawed. Attempts by the board, appointed by Trump, to halt the order and appeal were rejected by the federal court. The controversy began earlier this year when Trump reshaped the center's leadership, appointing his own allies to the board, which then elected him as chairman and proceeded to add his name to the building.

Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who had sued to have the name removed, hailed the decision as a victory for the rule of law and a step toward returning the center to the American people. The removal signifies a reversal of a politically charged decision that had sparked debate.

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A day when the rule of law has won.