A judge has denied President Trump's request to pause a ruling ordering his name removed from the Kennedy Center.
Why it matters: The request was a last-minute bid to avoid removing the president's name from the building and accompanying signage, as ordered in late May. The deadline for compliance is Friday.
What they're saying: D.C. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper said the Kennedy Center failed to show it "will be irreparably injured absent a stay," nor did it demonstrate that its appeal was "likely to succeed on the merits."
- He also noted the center had "apparently taken substantial steps toward complying with the Court's May 29 permanent injunction order on renaming. "
- "These efforts undermine the notion that Defendants face irreparable harm in complying with the order in full. The failure to demonstrate irreparable harm is 'fatal' to a movant's stay request," Cooper wrote.
- The judge concluded the public is "rarely served" by allowing the government to keep breaking the law.
- The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on the decision.
Catch up quick: In his May 29 ruling, Cooper ordered that Trump's name be removed within two weeks, giving the Kennedy Center two weeks to comply.
- Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center could not unilaterally change the building's name, writing that "Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it."
- The Kennedy Center began taking steps to remove Trump's name in some places, including ditching his name on its website and social media accounts.
- The Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees voted to appeal Cooper's ruling late Thursday ahead of the deadline to take Trump's name down.
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Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional context throughout.
