Trump administration misses deadline to remove his name from Kennedy Center
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The Trump administration missed a court-ordered deadline to remove President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
- The Department of Justice cited thunderstorms as the reason for the delay and requested an extension, which was opposed by Representative Joyce Beatty.
- Federal judges and an appeals court rejected requests to pause the order, affirming that only Congress has the authority to rename the arts center.
The Trump administration failed to meet a court-mandated deadline to remove President Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The Department of Justice informed a federal court that it expected the work to be completed Saturday morning, citing thunderstorms as the reason for the delay and requesting an extension until noon on Saturday.
inexcusable
Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who initiated the lawsuit, characterized the request for an extension as "inexcusable" and indicative of a "pattern of non-compliance." Beatty has stated she would "strongly oppose any further extensions" for removing Trump's name from the half-century-old arts landmark.
a pattern of non-compliance.
Earlier on Friday, a federal judge in Washington had already denied a Justice Department request to pause the order. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress possesses the authority to rename the venue, which memorializes President John F. Kennedy. The Trump administration appealed this ruling to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which also rejected the government's request for a pause on Friday.
would strongly oppose any further extensions
Attorneys representing Representative Beatty asserted that "the law is clear: only Congress can change the Kennedy Center's name." Legal advocacy groups also commented on the administration's actions, suggesting their "desperation is only making the spectacle worse for him." The court order required Trump's name to be removed from the building's facade, website, and other materials by 11:59 p.m. on Friday.
the law is clear: only Congress can change the Kennedy Center's name.
Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.