Trump name removed from Kennedy Center after court order takes effect
Although the original deadline for compliance had been set for midnight Friday, the government received a 12-hour extension after citing severe thunderstorms in the District of Columbia that raised safety concerns for workers responsible for removing signage from the site
President Donald Trump's name was officially removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday after the US Justice Department certified compliance with a federal court order requiring its removal from the institution's physical, digital and administrative materials.
The Justice Department filed the certification shortly before a noon deadline imposed by a federal judge, concluding a legal dispute over the naming of the Washington-based arts centre, says ABC News.
The filing came after a federal appeals court on Friday night denied the administration's request for an administrative stay that would have temporarily blocked the order.
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Although the original deadline for compliance had been set for midnight Friday, the government received a 12-hour extension after citing severe thunderstorms in the District of Columbia that raised safety concerns for workers responsible for removing signage from the site.
Under the court order, the president's name was removed from signs across the centre's grounds and buildings. Photographs showed workers taking down individual letters from the exterior of the facility, while other signs were covered with tarpaulins pending removal.
The order also required the Kennedy Center to eliminate the name from its online platforms, including its official website and YouTube page.
According to executive director Matt Floca, the name was additionally removed from employee email signatures, letterhead, brochures, press releases, promotional materials and legal contracts.
Before the court's decision, the Trump administration argued in legal filings that removing the president's name could have serious consequences for the institution. The administration said the move would hinder fundraising efforts and could lead to a "financial and structural collapse".
Government lawyers also argued that the change would create public confusion and interfere with necessary repairs at the centre.
In court filings, the administration further asserted that "no one else other than President Trump" was capable of rebuilding the institution and securing the funding needed for its continued operation.
Following the court's final decision, Trump said he now has "no interest" in pursuing an overhaul of the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center, the nation's premier performing arts institution, was established as a memorial to former US President John F. Kennedy and serves as a venue for theatre, music, dance and other cultural events.
