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The Kennedy Center began removing Donald Trump’s name from its building following a court-ordered deadline, as the venue struggles with staff and arts losses.
Scaffolding appeared at the Kennedy Center on Friday as workers began removing Donald Trump’s name from the building’s facade, complying with a court-ordered deadline [2]. The move followed a failed last-minute attempt by the center’s board to secure a stay of the judge’s decision [2].
The removal marks a turning point in a turbulent period for the institution. After appointing himself chairman, Trump had previously ordered a two-year closure of the venue, a decision that led to double-digit staff layoffs and the departure of the Washington National Opera, which had been in residence since 1971 [2]. While U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper eventually halted the closure, the center remains significantly depleted [2].
Despite the removal of his name, the board’s recent attempt to block the court order suggests Trump intends to maintain his role as chairman [2]. Representatives for the center have not clarified his future status or whether he plans to hand control of the venue to Congress [2]. The institution now faces the challenge of rebuilding its programming after losing staff and alienating artists during the takeover [2].
While the Kennedy Center undergoes physical changes, another project tied to the Trump family is facing mounting resistance in Albania. Villagers in Zvërnec are preparing to seek a court order to halt a luxury resort development, claiming that land included in the project was wrongfully sold [1].
The disputed property was sold by businessman Artur Shehu, who has previously faced investigations by Italian authorities regarding alleged ties to organized crime, though no charges were ever filed [1]. Residents argue they were recognized as the rightful owners of the land by an Albanian court in 2013, and they have presented tax records and property deeds to support their claims [1].
The proposed development, which includes a $1.4 billion luxury resort on the island of Sazan and a larger hotel complex along the Zvërnec coastline, has also drawn criticism from environmental groups concerned about local wildlife [1]. Although Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the proposal, the project has not yet received a final building permit [1]. Ivanka Trump has described the development process as being handled with "restraint and care," even as local opposition continues to intensify [1].
The Kennedy Center now faces the difficult task of restoring its reputation with a demoralized staff, while the Albanian resort project remains caught in a deepening legal and environmental dispute that could stall its multibillion-dollar ambitions.
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