Judge Clears Way for Removal of Trump Name from Kennedy Center

A federal judge in Washington, Christopher Cooper, has cleared a path for the removal of former President Donald Trump’s name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center. On Friday, the judge denied a last-minute request by the institution’s board to keep Trump’s name in place.

Unless the Kennedy Center decides to appeal Judge Cooper’s decision, Trump’s name could be removed from the building soon. Workers were seen erecting scaffolding around a section of the building displaying Trump’s name, while around a dozen onlookers chanted for its removal.

A spokesman for the Kennedy Center declined to comment on the ruling. Judge Cooper previously determined last month that Trump’s name was added illegally to the prominent Washington arts venue.

On Thursday, the board, selected by Trump, made a last-minute effort to retain his name on the building’s facade, but Judge Cooper refused to delay his order. A memorandum dated June 4 from the Kennedy Center’s General Counsel instructed staff that email signatures, letterhead, and other documents should reflect the name as either ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ or simply ‘Kennedy Center.’

Trump’s name has been removed from the Kennedy Center’s website. An earlier email to members offering ticket packages for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony on June 28 was sent from the Kennedy Center without Trump’s name included.

During his first term, Trump largely ignored the Kennedy Center. Yet, since his return to office, he has wielded significant influence over the establishment. Just a month into his second term, he dismissed the previous management and appointed a new board of trustees, which named him president. In his earlier ruling, Cooper had also blocked the government from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that were scheduled to begin in July and were expected to last two years.