Members of former US President John F. Kennedy's family welcomed a federal judge's ruling blocking President Donald Trump's attempt to rename the Kennedy Center after himself.
Maria Shriver, Kennedy's niece, described the decision as 'an appropriate birthday present' for her late uncle, whose birth anniversary was marked on Thursday.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully when it voted to rename the institution in Trump's honor, violating 'Congress's express statutory direction.'
The judge ordered the removal of Trump's name from the center's title, including physical signs, digital materials, and official branding connected to the venue.
Cooper also blocked a proposed two-year closure of the center, saying the board relied on 'an insufficient, one-sided presentation of information.'
The lawsuit was filed by Ohio Democrat Joyce Beatty, who challenged the Trump-backed board's decision to rename the institution.
