Judge keeps order in place to remove Trump’s name from Kennedy Center

The US president has sought to reshape the capital city’s image and institutions through series of plans and projects.President Donald Trump’s name is set to be removed from the facade of the Kennedy Center, an entertainment and cultural institution in Washington, DC, after a judge rejected a last-minute request to keep it in place.US District Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed an effort by the centre’s board, whose members were handpicked by Trump, to reverse a previous order taking his name off the building by Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US panel approves Trump’s design for massive arch in Washington, DClist 2 of 3US Treasury secretary confirms plans for $250 bill featuring Trump’s facelist 3 of 3Trump pledges to withdraw from Kennedy Center after court strikes his nameend of listThe saga is yet another example of Trump’s effort to make changes to major sites and institutions across the nation’s capital, on which he has sought to impose himself through a series of planned projects that include an enormous triumphal arch and a White House ballroom.Many of those efforts have faced legal challenges.Trump dismissed the centre’s previous leadership and appointed a board that named him chairman.Cooper had ruled last month that the addition of Trump’s name to the exterior of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was illegal and ordered its removal.“Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of,” Trump wrote in a 580-word social media post at the time, slamming the decision, referring to himself in third-person.A June 4 memo from the centre’s Office of General Counsel had instructed staff to use the name “The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center” in email signatures, letterhead and other documents. The centre’s website also dropped Trump’s name.