The potential renaming of the Kennedy Centre has hit a significant roadblock. According to Judge Cooper, any attempt to change the name of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts requires the explicit approval of Congress. “May the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts be renamed absent Congressional authorisation?” the judge questioned, proceeding to provide a clear answer: “The answer, plain from the face of the statute, is no.”
In addition to this ruling, Cooper has also taken action to prevent the Trump administration from closing the venue for renovations. This decision comes on the heels of a controversial move in December, when the board of trustees, appointed by the president, voted in favor of renaming the venue to The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts.
This decision followed a significant reshuffle, in which Trump dismissed the previous board members and assumed the role of chairman. However, these plans have been thwarted for now, as the legal requirement for congressional approval stands firm.
Cooper also blocked the Trump administration from closing the venue for renovations.
In December the board of trustees appointed by the president voted to rename it The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts.
Trump had fired the previous board and appointed himself chairman.
The Centre has been given 14 days to take Trump’s name off all signage.
“Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself!” he wrote.
Trump then announced he was not going to be involved in renovations of the building, even though he described it as “structurally dangerous”.
“I cannot be involved with a situation where danger to the Public is allowed to flourish in plain and open sight.Â
“Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND.’”
Trump said he had directed his staff to transfer control of the Kennedy Centre to Congress.
Democrats have celebrated the judge’s decision.
“Trump tried to slap his name on the Kennedy Centre like it was one of his tacky hotels,” Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said.
“The Kennedy Centre belongs to the American people. Now and always.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Trump Administration set aside close to $A7 million to have four prominent statues in Washington DC coated in gold.
“This comes from the same administration that said we don’t have enough money for cancer research or to feed hungry kids,” Democratic Representative Dwight Evans said.
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