Workers removed Donald Trump's name from the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in the early hours of Saturday, shortly after a federal judge rejected an emergency appeal to block the removal. The removal came hours after the performing arts venue missed a deadline set by the judge to excise the words "The Donald J Trump and" from its exterior by Friday at 11.59pm local time.
The name had been added in December after Trump's handpicked board of trustees voted unanimously to rename the venue, which was designated as a living memorial to John F Kennedy by Congress in 1964 and opened in 1971. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled last month that the renaming was illegal, writing: "Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it." He also issued a temporary block on Trump's demand to close the centre for two years of renovations.
In a legal filing, the centre's executive director, Matt Floca, confirmed the lettering had been removed, stating that the board and centre had removed "all physical signage on the Kennedy Center building and grounds, including the front portico, that purports to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump". The removal followed a series of last-minute legal attempts by Trump's lawyers and the Department of Justice, which argued that it "does not make sense to alter the centre's name and signage now, only to potentially revert the name again after what should be a successful appeal". Both attempts were denied.
Trump had seized control of the centre in February, removing 18 trustees appointed by Joe Biden, handpicking new ones and naming himself chair. He later said he was giving up control. The judge's order came after a legal challenge by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board.
A crowd gathered in front of the centre overnight to cheer on workers and witness the restoration of the original name, "The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts". People chanted "Shame!" and "Take it down!" The tarpaulin remained in place on Saturday, but the court filing confirmed the removal.
