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Trump officials threaten Kennedy Center demolition if court blocks renovations
Confirmed
The Trump administration has threatened to demolish the Kennedy Center if planned renovations for the performing arts venue are not allowed to be carried out, court documents show. In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the renaming was unlawful, stating that changing the name of a national memorial requires the approval of Congress , with Trump’s name being removed a month later. In August, though, the Kennedy Center board voted 20-3 to have Trump’s name stamped onto the iconic venue, albeit in a different phrasing.
The threat to demolish the building comes just weeks after the Kennedy Center board voted to add Trump's name back to the facade of the venue and to proceed with a two-year closure for proposed renovations. Also, the phrase “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund,” would be added once an endowment voted into existence by the board reaches $100 million.
Trump had previously replaced several trustees of the center’s board and even appointed himself as a trustee, paving the way for him to be voted in as the center’s chairman. However, the current president added his own name to the Kennedy Center last year when the board voted for the site to be renamed as: “The Donald J.
“In plain English, Defendants have not-so-subtly said: `What a nice Kennedy Center you have here. The performing arts venue has become a flashpoint for tensions between the president and his critics , with Trump being ordered to remove his name from the building in June.
Many of the board members who voted are Trump allies who were appointed by the president. Trump's lawyers have argued that without the renovations the venue "will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down".
The DOJ argued that Trump worked to overhaul the site upon taking office. The judge ordered that the name be removed, and so it was taken down in June.
In late May, a US judge ruled that the president's name had been added to the venue unlawfully, as it cannot be renamed without congressional approval.
What's confirmed
- Many of the board members who voted are Trump allies who were appointed by the president.
- The judge ordered that the name be removed, and so it was taken down in June.
- The performing arts venue has become a flashpoint for tensions between the president and his critics , with Trump being ordered to remove his name from the building in June.
- Trump had previously replaced several trustees of the center’s board and even appointed himself as a trustee, paving the way for him to be voted in as the center’s chairman.
- In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the renaming was unlawful, stating that changing the name of a national memorial requires the approval of Congress , with Trump’s name being removed a month…
What's still developing
- The Trump administration has threatened to demolish the Kennedy Center if planned renovations for the performing arts venue are not allowed to be carried out, court documents show.
- Trump's lawyers have argued that without the renovations the venue "will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down".
- The threat to demolish the building comes just weeks after the Kennedy Center board voted to add Trump's name back to the facade of the venue and to proceed with a two-year closure for proposed renovations.
- In late May, a US judge ruled that the president's name had been added to the venue unlawfully, as it cannot be renamed without congressional approval.
- The DOJ argued that Trump worked to overhaul the site upon taking office .
- “In plain English, Defendants have not-so-subtly said: `What a nice Kennedy Center you have here.
- However, the current president added his own name to the Kennedy Center last year when the board voted for the site to be renamed as: “The Donald J.
- Also, the phrase “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund,” would be added once an endowment voted into existence by the board reaches $100 million.