Federal judge rejects bid to halt removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center building
US federal judge Christopher Cooper denied a request by the Kennedy Center board and the Justice Department to delay the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the venue, upholding his earlier order.
A US federal judge on Friday rejected a bid by the board of the Kennedy Center and the Justice Department to halt the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the performing arts venue. Last month, US District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered Trump's name taken off the iconic building in Washington by Friday.
The board of trustees, which consists of Trump allies, and the Justice Department filed an appeal on Thursday asking Cooper to stay his ruling. The judge turned down the request, stating that the public interest "is rarely served by the 'perpetuation' of 'unlawful' governmental action."
In his May 29 ruling, Cooper said the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts had been illegally renamed after Trump and only Congress has the right to change its name. He gave the administration 14 days to remove Trump's name from the facade and any materials linked to the venue.
Earlier this week, the Kennedy Center dropped Trump's name from its website. His name remains, however, on the building's white marble facade. Cooper also issued a temporary block on Trump's demand to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations, which was due to start in July.
An angry Trump reacted by saying he was giving up control of the venue, which he seized at the start of his second term last year by naming himself chairman. In December, the center's board, packed with Trump loyalists, voted to rename the venue the "Trump Kennedy Center" and the Republican president's name was added to the facade in large letters above that of Kennedy. A number of artists cancelled scheduled performances following the move.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly taken steps to place his name and image in official spaces, breaking with American political tradition. The now-defunct US Institute of Peace was renamed after Trump, and his face appears on huge banners outside the Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture. The Trump administration is also seeking to have his image on a $250 bill to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary of independence from Britain.
