Washington's Kennedy Center Removes Donald Trump's Name After Federal Court Order
Crews in Washington, D.C., have commenced the removal of former President Donald Trump's name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center. This action follows a federal judge's order, issued last month, which deemed the addition unlawful and mandated its removal by Friday, 12 June.
Scaffolding was erected on Friday, drawing onlookers, though thunderstorms delayed work until early Saturday. A final attempt by the Trump administration to pause the order was dismissed by the judge.
US District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in late May that the performing arts venue, a designated memorial to President John F. Kennedy, could not be renamed without explicit congressional approval. The judge also blocked a proposed temporary closure of the centre for renovations.
An appeals court refused immediate intervention, permitting the removal to proceed while further arguments are considered. The Trump administration had argued that altering the centre's name could lead to confusion if the initial decision were later reversed.
Donald Trump announced the addition of his name to the institution, among other rebranding initiatives across the capital, last year. In February 2025, he replaced several trustees on the centre's board, appointed himself as a trustee, and was subsequently voted in as the arts centre's chairman.
