Trump’s Name Removed From Kennedy Center After Court Ruling

Workers have begun removing President Donald Trump’s name from the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., following a federal court ruling that declared the renaming of the institution unlawful. The move marks the latest chapter in a highly contentious dispute over the future identity of one of America’s most prominent cultural landmarks.

The Kennedy Center had been renamed the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” in December 2025 after a board of trustees largely appointed by Trump voted to add his name to the institution. Critics immediately challenged the decision, arguing that only Congress has the legal authority to alter the name of the federally established memorial dedicated to former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the renaming violated federal law and ordered the restoration of the center’s original name. Efforts by Trump’s legal team and the Kennedy Center board to delay the ruling were rejected by both district and appellate courts, clearing the way for the removal process.

Construction crews erected scaffolding around the building before beginning the removal of the large lettering. The operation was briefly affected by weather delays and legal maneuvering over compliance deadlines, but workers ultimately proceeded with the court-ordered changes.

The ruling also required the institution to remove Trump’s name from official websites, social media platforms, promotional materials and other branding. In recent days, references to the “Trump Kennedy Center” had already disappeared from the center’s digital platforms as administrators moved to comply with the court order.

The controversy stems from broader changes at the Kennedy Center after Trump reshaped its leadership and appointed himself chairman of the board. The dispute sparked opposition from lawmakers, members of the Kennedy family, artists and cultural figures who argued that the center’s historic identity should remain unchanged.

With the removal of Trump’s name, the building will once again officially bear its long-standing title, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, restoring the designation established by Congress more than five decades ago.