Appeals Court Rejects Bid to Keep Trump's Name on Kennedy Center

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Washington: A federal appeals court on Friday rejected an emergency request to temporarily halt the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center, clearing the way for officials to comply with a judge's order to restore the venue's original identity.

The decision came after lawyers representing Trump and the Kennedy Center's current leadership sought to pause a ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper. The judge had found that adding Trump's name to the famed performing arts institution was unlawful, stating that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the center, which was established as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.

Earlier in the day, Cooper also rejected a separate last-minute effort by the Kennedy Center to delay the removal process. His order required the institution to eliminate Trump's name from its signage, branding and official documents by Friday.

Workers began preparing to remove the lettering from the building's marble exterior, erecting scaffolding outside the Washington landmark. Crowds gathered nearby, cheering the effort and chanting for the name to be taken down. However, work was temporarily interrupted later in the afternoon as thunderstorms swept through the U.S. capital.

The Kennedy Center had already started complying with the court's order earlier this week by removing Trump's name from its website and official communications. Internal guidance instructed staff to use the institution's original title, 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,' across all platforms and materials.

The controversy began in December when the Kennedy Center's board, which had been appointed by Trump allies, voted to rename the institution 'The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.' The move sparked criticism from many residents, artists, and former patrons, who argued that attaching Trump's name to the bipartisan cultural landmark undermined its original purpose.

Pic Credit: AFP