Trump threatens to keep Kennedy Center shut if his name not added
US federal judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Donald Trump's name could not be restored to the centre's exterior, saying the centre had tried to circumvent his earlier order to remove it.
US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that he would keep the Kennedy Center closed indefinitely if his name was not added to the arts venue's exterior. The center's hand-picked board had voted almost unanimously to shut down the Washington landmark for emergency renovations just hours after a federal judge ruled that Trump's name could not be added.
The judge's decision came after Trump had installed the name on the center's exterior shortly after taking up his role as its chairman upon entering his second term. The federal judge, Christopher Cooper, had previously ordered the removal of Trump's name and overturned the board's decision to rename the institution. Trump argued that the center's main building was in a state of dangerous disrepair, citing a recent incident where a piece of the ceiling fell during a storm.
He warned that if the renovations could not proceed, the building would remain shut, potentially resulting in loss of life. The Kennedy Center board defended its decision, stating it prioritized safety above all else. The center's ticket sales have reportedly plummeted since Trump's takeover, with several artists canceling performances at the venue.
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