Workers have started removing the name of U.S. President Donald Trump from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., following a court ruling. On Saturday, workers were seen on scaffolding in front of the iconic building, with a white awning obscuring the removal process.

A day earlier, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a last-minute appeal by the Trump-aligned board to block an earlier ruling calling for the president's name to be removed. On May 29, Cooper ruled that the building had been illegally renamed, noting that only the U.S. Congress has the authority to pass legislation for such a change. He set a 14-day deadline for the removal.

In his decision on Friday, Cooper said that the public interest “is rarely served by the ‘perpetuation’ of ‘unlawful’ governmental action.” Trump, a real estate heir, built his career on ubiquitous branding of his name, which remains on apartments, casinos, and golf courses worldwide. He has taken a similar approach to the presidency, renaming the now-defunct U.S. Institute of Peace as the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace.

The White House is pushing to put Trump's image on a $250 bill marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The State Department has said it will issue special passports with Trump's image and signature for the event. Trump has also pursued controversial construction projects in the capital, including demolishing the White House's east wing for a ballroom. The National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged the project in court.

Upon taking office, Trump stacked the Kennedy Center's board with loyalists. They voted in December to change the name, adding 'Donald J. Trump' to the facade. Several artists canceled performances after the change. Judge Cooper also temporarily blocked Trump's plan to close the center for two years for renovations. Trump responded by saying he had “no interest in continuing” his involvement with the institution.

Source: www.aljazeera.com