US judge refuses to block removal of Trump name from Kennedy Center

A US federal judge on Friday rejected an effort by the Kennedy Center’s board and the Justice Department to stop the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the iconic performing arts venue, clearing the way for workers to begin taking down the signage.

US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that keeping Trump’s name on the building while appeals proceed would not serve the public interest, reaffirming his earlier decision that the venue had been unlawfully renamed and that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The board, made up largely of Trump allies, and the Justice Department appealed the ruling and sought an emergency stay, but Cooper denied the request. A further appeal to a higher court remains pending.

Workers erected scaffolding outside the Washington landmark on Friday night in preparation for removing the signage, while spectators gathered nearby and thousands followed the developments online. The Kennedy Center had already removed Trump’s name from its website earlier in the week.

The dispute stems from Trump’s takeover of the institution after returning to office, when he named himself chairman and installed loyalists on the governing board. The board later voted to rename the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center,” prompting backlash from artists and cultural figures, with several performers canceling scheduled appearances.

Cooper has also temporarily blocked plans by the Trump administration to close the center for a two-year renovation project scheduled to begin in July.