Donald Trump's Name Removed from Kennedy Center Building

The management of the Kennedy Center has removed the name of United States President Donald Trump from its building in Washington, D.C., following a court order amid an ongoing legal dispute over the naming of the performing arts institution, local media reported. Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca said Trump’s name had been taken down after a judge ruled it must be removed, as reported by CNN on Saturday (13/6). According to the report, workers began removing the signage on Saturday morning after the building’s facade was covered with tarpaulin the previous day. The move came after US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress has the authority to approve a name change for the institution. The judge also ordered that all references to Trump’s name in the building and related materials be removed. Meanwhile, an appeals court on Friday rejected the Kennedy Center’s request to stay the ruling while legal proceedings continue. In its arguments, the Kennedy Center stated that restoring the institution’s original name could cause public confusion and potentially affect private donations linked to the name change. The legal dispute originated from a decision by the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees to rename the institution using Trump’s name and to add his name to the building’s facade. The lawsuit was filed by US Representative Joyce Beatty. She welcomed the development and affirmed that supporters would continue to fight for the Kennedy Center’s original identity. The trial is ongoing, with additional legal arguments scheduled to be presented later this month.