Trump’s Name Removed from Kennedy Center After Court-Ordered Deadline
Workers removed President Donald Trump’s name from the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a predawn operation on Saturday, ending a months-long legal and political battle over the renaming of the iconic cultural institution. The removal began around 3 a.m., just hours after courts rejected a final attempt by Trump-appointed Kennedy Center officials and the Justice Department to delay compliance with a federal order.
The Kennedy Center had missed a midnight court deadline, citing thunderstorms and safety concerns that delayed construction work. Officials sought an extension until noon Saturday, but workers proceeded overnight and dismantled the lettering bearing Trump’s name. The signage had been displayed for about 176 days after the center’s board voted in December 2025 to rename the venue “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the federally designated Kennedy Center. The judge also blocked a controversial USD 257 million renovation plan that would have closed the venue for two years starting in July. Appeals filed by the Kennedy Center and the Justice Department were rejected by both the district court and the federal appeals court.
The legal challenge was brought by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, an ex-officio trustee who argued the renaming violated federal law. Crowds gathered outside the center Friday night, cheering workers and chanting “Take it down” as scaffolding went up. Protesters, arts advocates and members of the Kennedy family had strongly opposed the renaming, calling it a politicization of a national memorial.
The Kennedy Center had already removed Trump’s name from its website, social media, official documents and promotional materials. Despite the setback, the administration is expected to continue its appeal and has suggested transferring greater control of the institution to Congress.