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Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center after judge's order
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore /Culture & Society

Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center after judge's order

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Workers removed President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center early Saturday, complying with a judge's order.
  • The Department of Justice missed a court-ordered deadline to remove the name, citing safety risks from thunderstorms.
  • A federal judge ruled in May that only Congress could rename the arts center, a decision upheld by an appeals court.

Workers stripped U.S. President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center early Saturday, less than six months after it was added. The operation complied with a judge's ruling that the performing arts landmark could not be renamed without an act of Congress.

only Congress could rename the arts centre.

โ€” US District Judge Christopher CooperThe judge's ruling on May 29 that determined the legal standing for the name removal.

The work began around 1:20 a.m. Saturday, hours after the Department of Justice informed the court it would miss the Friday deadline to remove the name. The department cited safety concerns due to thunderstorms, requesting a 12-hour extension.

Scaffolding had been erected Friday night, and workers were seen removing letters around 3:10 a.m. The removal operation took about 30 minutes. The center's board, chaired by Trump, had voted in December to rename it The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

only Congress could rename the venue.

โ€” US District Judge Christopher CooperThe judge's ruling that was being considered by the appeals court.

Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who initiated the lawsuit, called the request for an extension "inexcusable" and part of a "pattern of non-compliance." A federal judge had previously declined the Department of Justice's request to pause the order to remove Trump's name, stating he would not lift the order while an appeals court considered his ruling.

a pattern of non-compliance

โ€” US Representative Joyce BeattyBeatty's statement regarding the government's attempt to delay the name removal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.