president Donald TrumpBy June 12, the Kennedy Center name will be removed from the Kennedy Center’s buildings and materials. Previously, a federal judge ruled that the institution’s board of directors violated the law by deciding to rename the center after him.
United States District Judge Christopher Cooper It was held that the board exceeded its authority. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center this name, and only Congress can change it,” Cooper wrote in his decision.
The court concluded that while the board oversees operations and programming, it does not have the authority to unilaterally change the agency’s congressionally determined name.
Read more: Trump-Kennedy Center battle: What Judge Christopher Cooper said in latest order — Top quotes
What did the memo say?
The memo was sent Thursday by the center’s general counsel.
Kennedy Center staff were instructed to remove references to Trump from signage, brochures, websites, furniture, letterhead and other official materials, according to a memo. Employees are also instructed to immediately update email signatures and official communications.
The memo also revealed that Kennedy Center officials are evaluating their options for a planned closure related to a $257 million renovation project. In his ruling, Cooper emphasized that the court’s decision does not prevent the board from independently deciding whether improvements are still needed or a temporary closure.
“It simply requires the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees to comply with certain minimum requirements under the law. Beyond that, the court will let the parties proceed,” Cooper wrote.
Trump’s approval rating: The least popular president
The legal battle to rename the Kennedy Center comes as the conflict in Iran and persistently high prices have driven Trump’s net approval rating to its lowest ever, according to an Economist poll.
According to The Economist, which uses YouGov data to track the president’s popularity, Trump’s net approval rating is -25, “making him the least popular president since the survey began in 2009.”
He has the lowest approval rating on inflation and pricing, with a net rating of -43%, according to The Economist’s analysis. U.S. natural gas prices averaged more than $4 a gallon Thursday, up from about $3 a gallon a year ago, according to AAA.
In other areas, including jobs and the economy, foreign policy, immigration, crime and more, he has done relatively well.
While the Kennedy Center controversy is not directly related to Trump’s approval ratings, the Kennedy Center scandal has had a negative impact on Trump’s already declining favorability rating.
New signs bearing Trump’s name appeared almost immediately after the board’s vote, the report said. Justice Department lawyers later acknowledged in court filings that the speed of the installation suggested preparations may have been made before the official vote, The Washington Post reported.
