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Workers remove Trump's name from Kennedy Center after court ruling

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Workers are removing Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
  • A U.S. District Judge ruled that renaming the building was unlawful and required Congressional approval.
  • The decision followed a legal challenge by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Workers have begun removing the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., following a court ruling that declared the renaming unlawful. The process is being conducted behind white awnings to obscure the removal.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a last-minute appeal by the center's Trump-aligned board to block an earlier ruling. On May 29, Cooper had determined that the building's renaming was illegal, stating that only the U.S. Congress has the authority to legislate such a change. He set a 14-day deadline for the removal.

is rarely served by the ‘perpetuation’ of ‘unlawful’ governmental action

— Judge Christopher CooperThe judge explained the reasoning behind his decision to order the removal of Trump's name from the building.

In his Friday decision, Cooper stated that the public interest is "rarely served by the 'perpetuation' of 'unlawful' governmental action." The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. had its name changed to include "Donald J Trump" after the center's governing board, which Trump had stacked with loyalists, voted to change the name in December.

Several artists canceled performances after the name change. Judge Cooper had also previously blocked Trump's plan to close the center for two years for renovations. Trump had responded to that ruling by stating he had "no interest in continuing" his involvement with the institution.

no interest in continuing

— Donald TrumpTrump's reaction to a previous ruling that blocked his renovation plans for the center.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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