Judge denies pause of order to remove Trump’s name from Kennedy Center

A judge has denied a request from the Kennedy Center to pause a ruling ordering Donald Trump’s name removed from building.

That denial came on Friday. The US district judge Christopher Cooper ruled last month that Trump’s name was illegally added to the iconic Washington performing arts facility. Cooper ruled that only Congress could institute a change to the Kennedy Center’s name and ordered references to the president to be removed by Friday.

A 4 June memo to staff from the Kennedy Center’s office of general counsel said email signatures, letterheads and other documents must reflect the name as “The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center”.

The Kennedy Center’s website has dropped Trump’s name. And an email earlier this week sent to members offering ticket packages for the 28 June Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony came from “the Kennedy Center” – without including Trump’s name.

After ignoring the Kennedy Center for much of his first term, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his return to office. Just a month into his second term, he ousted the center’s previous leadership and replaced it with a handpicked board of trustees that named him chair.