On Friday, with the deadline approaching for a court-mandated removal of Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center, the administration sought a stay from the court that had ordered the removal. However, the judge refused the request, stating:
The defendants have not provided sufficient evidence to show they are likely to succeed in any appeal, as detailed in the Court’s decision. Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 426 (2009) (quoting Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987)). Additionally, they have not shown that they will suffer irreparable harm without a stay, considering the minimal resources needed to reinstate the Center’s current name if an appeal is successful, and the absence of evidence connecting increased donations to the current name.
Late into the night, hundreds of thousands of Americans tuned in online to watch as crews covered Trump’s name on the building with tarps and began their work. The process was briefly halted due to thunderstorms, as reported by the administration to the court.
By Saturday, a Kennedy Center official confirmed to the court that Trump’s name had been removed.
