A team of workers spent the night removing Donald Trump’s name from the front of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, just hours after a judge rejected an emergency appeal to stop the removal.
Work started in the early hours of Saturday, shortly after the performing arts center missed a federal judge’s two-week deadline to remove the words “The Donald J Trump and” from its exterior by Friday at 11:59 PM local time.
Those extra words were added last December, after Trump’s handpicked board of trustees voted unanimously to rename the venue. The center was designated by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to the 35th US president, John F Kennedy, and opened in 1971.
After putting up scaffolding on Friday evening, workers in hard hats and high-vis vests covered the temporary structure with tarpaulin at 2 AM to block public view of their progress. But through a small gap in the covering, people could see them removing the letters around 3 AM.
A crowd gathered in front of the center to cheer on the workers and watch as the name was restored to “The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” People chanted “Shame!” and “Take it down!”
It took about 30 minutes to remove Trump’s name. On Saturday morning, the signage was still covered, but passersby kept stopping to take photos in front of the building.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled last month that Trump’s name had been added illegally and ordered its removal this week. This came after a legal challenge from Joyce Beatty, a Democratic representative from Ohio and an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board.
“Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name,” the judge wrote in his 94-page opinion, “and only Congress can change it.”
Cooper also temporarily blocked Trump’s demand to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations, which were set to start in July.
Trump responded by saying he was giving up control of the venue. He had taken over in February by removing the 18 trustees appointed by former President Joe Biden, choosing new ones, and naming himself chair.
But less than 36 hours before the deadline, lawyers for Trump and the Kennedy Center board made a last-minute attempt to keep his name on the building.
By then, the venue had already removed Trump’s name from its website and reportedly sent out emails offering tickets to an event at “the Kennedy Center” – without mentioning the 47th president’s name.
At 1 PM on Friday, Cooper ruled that the center’s lawyers had not shown they were likely to win their appeal or that the center would suffer “irreparable harm” if Trump’s name were removed.
Lawyers from the Department of Justice, representing the center, appealed Cooper’s decision at 3:46 PM. Urging the appeals court to pause the order, the justice department said: “It does not make sense to alter the center’s name and signage now, only to potentially change it back again after what should be a successful appeal.”
But shortly after 7 PM, this second attempt was denied. The crowd of more than 100 people at the Hands Off the Arts rally in front of the center erupted in cheers and demanded the immediate removal of Trump’s name.
Late on Friday, the Department of Justice said in a court filing that it would miss the deadline because of thunderstorms that could pose safety risks for workers, and asked for a 12-hour extension. Beatty called that request “inexcusable” and part of “a pattern of non-compliance,” according to the justice department filing.
During his second term, Trump has made a broad push to reshape areas of Washington. He has released plans for a 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery.A 90,000-square-foot ballroom is being built where the East Wing of the White House used to stand. Trump had the East Wing demolished in October. Earlier this month, a court stopped construction of the $400 million ballroom. The Trump administration has appealed that decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the removal of Trumps name from the Kennedy Center written in a natural clear tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Why did workers take down Trumps name from the Kennedy Center
A They were following a court ruling A judge ordered the removal because the way the name was added didnt follow the law The board didnt have the authority to do it without a formal vote
Q Was Trumps name on the building itself
A No It was on a small sign or plaque near the entrance not on the main building The Kennedy Centers name and logo stayed the same
Q Who decided to put Trumps name up in the first place
A The board of trustees of the Kennedy Center which President Trump had appointed members to decided to add his name This happened during his presidency
Q Does this mean Trump is banned from the Kennedy Center
A No This is only about removing his name from the physical signage It doesnt affect his ability to attend events or use the center as a regular visitor
Intermediate Advanced Questions
Q What exactly did the court rule
A The court ruled that the Kennedy Centers board violated its own bylaws and the DC Nonprofit Corporation Act The board didnt hold a proper vote or follow the required procedures to add the name The removal order was to correct that illegal action
Q Was this a political decision by the court
A No The ruling was based on the law and the centers internal rules not on political opinion The judge said the boards action was arbitrary and capricious because it skipped the proper process
Q What happens to the sign now
A Workers removed it Its likely being stored or returned to the organization that made it It wont be displayed at the Kennedy Center anymore
Q Could the name be put back up in the future
A Yes if a future board follows the correct legal processholds a formal vote gets approval from the centers leadership and follows its bylaws But it would require a new decision
Q Did the removal cost taxpayers money
A The cost
