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A US federal judge ordered the removal of US President Donald Trump’s name from the John F Kennedy Centre, ruling the renaming violated federal law.
Judge Christopher Cooper of the Federal District Court in Washington directed that Trump’s name be removed within two weeks. He said Congress designated the Kennedy Centre as the sole national memorial to John F Kennedy in Washington.
The ruling concluded that the board acted beyond its legal powers when it independently renamed the institution without congressional approval.
Judge Cooper emphasised that Congress established the centre’s name and only Congress possesses the authority to alter it.
“The Kennedy Centre’s organic statute makes clear that the institution must remain dedicated to President Kennedy,” the judge stated in his ruling.
Judge Cooper also issued a temporary injunction preventing the Trump administration from closing the Kennedy Centre for two years. He said the board approved the shutdown without fully assessing its legal duties and the impact on programmes and memorial functions.
The court clarified that the injunction would not prevent planned capital repair projects from proceeding.
The judge noted that the facility requires substantial maintenance work. He also stated that the board could reconsider closure in the future if it properly balanced all statutory obligations.
Since returning to the office, Trump has taken a prominent role at the Kennedy Centre. He replaced the previous leadership and assumed the position of board chair.
In December, the board voted to rename the venue “The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts.”
The decision sparked widespread criticism from political leaders, cultural organisations, and members of the public. Several prominent artists subsequently cancelled scheduled performances.
Trump later announced a two-year pause in entertainment operations from July for renovation work.
The Kennedy Centre remains America’s leading cultural venue, hosting world-class music, theatre, opera, and dance performances.
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