Federal District Judge Christopher Cooper has denied a last-minute request from the Kennedy Center board, selected by President Donald Trump, to reverse a prior order requiring the removal of Mr. Trump's name from the building's facade by Friday. The ruling affirms the order to erase Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., a renowned cultural and entertainment hub.
The case is another instance of President Trump's efforts to alter major sites and institutions across the U.S. capital, where he has sought to reshape imagery through a series of projects, including a massive triumphal arch and a ballroom at the White House. Many of these initiatives have faced legal challenges.
Earlier, Trump fired the center's previous leadership and appointed a new board, which elected him as chairman. Last month, Judge Cooper ruled that affixing Trump's name to the exterior of the John F. Kennedy Center was illegal and ordered its removal. In June, a memo from the center's Office of General Counsel directed staff to use only the names “John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center” in email signatures, letterheads, and other documents. The center's website also removed references to Trump's name.
Despite those moves, the board attempted to salvage the change by filing an appeal on Thursday, but Judge Cooper dismissed the request on Friday, keeping the removal order in effect.
