Di name of US President Donald Trump don finally take down from di front of Kennedy Center for Washington DC, after federal judge order am. Di performance arts venue confirm for court filing say dem don fully comply with di ruling, and Trump name no longer dey for di building, website, or any other materials.
Federal Judge Christopher Cooper don rule for late May say di venue for central Washington DC no fit rename without congressional approval. Di judge also block di centre temporary closure during upcoming proposed renovations. Di president name don add to di venue unlawfully, di judge find, and order di removal by Friday 12 June.
Crews erect scaffolding on Friday as onlookers gather, though thunderstorms delay di work until early Saturday. A last-minute attempt by di Trump administration to pause di order na reject by di judge. Di case stem from broader legal dispute over renaming of di cultural institution, wey US law designate as memorial to President John F Kennedy.
A group wey dem call Hands Off di Arts, wey say dem dey seek to keep art free from government control, hold small rally outside Kennedy Center on Friday. Attendees cheer for di workers wey dey put up scaffolding around di building signage, chanting ‘take it down!’ When another organizer announce say appeals court deny di Trump administration second attempt to block di judge order, di crowd erupt for celebratory cheers.
For early hours of Saturday, workers hang long plastic sheeting from di structure, obscuring di removal of di letters. As of Saturday afternoon, di sheeting still dey block view of Kennedy Center sign. An appeals court decline to intervene immediately, allowing di removal to proceed pending further arguments.
Di Trump administration don argue say changing di centre name fit create confusion if di decision later overturn. Di US president announce di addition of im name to di institution, among other rebranding measures across di nation capital, last year. For February 2025, he replace several trustees on di centre board and appoint himself as trustee before dem vote am as di arts centre chairman.
