Workers on Saturday removed U.S. President Donald Trump’s name from the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts following a federal court ruling that declared the renaming unlawful, according to the venue.
In a legal filing, Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca confirmed that all exterior signage bearing Trump’s name had been taken down from the building and surrounding grounds. By midday, parts of the facade remained covered as removal work continued, with scaffolding and protective tarps visible outside the iconic Washington arts institution.
The decision followed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ordered that Trump’s name be removed from the building. In his May 29 judgment, Cooper stated that the Kennedy Center had been renamed without legal authority, emphasizing that only Congress holds the power to change the institution’s official name. He gave the administration a 14-day deadline to remove all references to the altered name from the property and related materials.
On Friday, the judge also rejected a last-minute request to delay enforcement of the ruling, clearing the way for the removal to proceed. A further request for a 12-hour extension was also denied, with the court noting that the public interest is not served by continuing unlawful actions.
Crowds gathered outside the center on Friday evening, watching as crews erected scaffolding in preparation for the removal. Some onlookers cheered as work began, while others followed the process via livestream.
The removal was briefly delayed due to thunderstorms in the area, which officials said created unsafe working conditions.
The dispute stems from a broader controversy over changes made to the Kennedy Center’s leadership and branding following Trump’s return to office. The center’s governing board, which was reconstituted with presidential appointees, previously voted to rename the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center,” and the president’s name was later installed prominently above that of John F. Kennedy. Several artists reportedly withdrew from scheduled performances in protest.
In a separate ruling, Judge Cooper also blocked a proposal that would have closed the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations.
The removal marks a setback for Trump’s broader efforts to place his name on prominent federal landmarks and institutions. His administration had previously overseen similar symbolic changes, including renaming moves involving other public entities, as well as proposals to feature his image on future U.S. currency.
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