Judge upholds order to remove Trump's name from Kennedy Center

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.