US Court Rejects Trump's Request, His Name Will Not Be Rehung on Kennedy Center Facade

(Washington, July 8, CNA, via foreign press) The U.S. Court of Appeals today rejected President Trump's request, refusing to allow his name to be rehung on the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during the pendency of related litigation.

According to Agence France-Presse, the Trump name on the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington was removed last month in accordance with an order from U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper. Cooper had ruled at the time that only Congress has the authority to change the center's name.

The Trump administration and the Kennedy Center's Board of Directors subsequently appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, seeking a stay of Cooper's order.

The three judges on the appellate court today denied this request, stating that the Trump name "has already been removed" and that it has not yet been proven that this action would cause "irreparable harm."

The court also rejected the Kennedy Center's claim that it might suffer financial losses due to the failure to reinstate the Trump name, stating that such claims "lack any specific facts or evidence to support them."

Upon his return to the White House in January 2025, Trump appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and installed his loyal supporters on the board.

The board resolved in December last year to change the venue's name to "The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" and to add Trump's name in large letters to the facade, even placing it above the name of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.

The Trump name was removed last month, but the area where it was removed is currently covered by white waterproof canvas and scaffolding.

Judge Cooper has asked the board to explain by the end of July why the canvas has not yet been removed.

At other locations in Washington, the previously defunct "United States Institute of Peace" was renamed the "Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace"; large banners on the facades of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Agriculture also featured portraits of Trump.

The Trump administration is also seeking to have Trump's portrait printed on a new $250 denomination banknote to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. (Compiled by Shi Shi) 1150709

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