US4 min(s) read
Published 12:11 14 Jun 2026 GMT
Kennedy Center confirms Trump's name has been removed after claims it was added in violation of federal law
.webp_ke6C2y?tr=cr-169.8.1505.1344,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
President Donald Trump's name has officially been removed from the Kennedy Center after a judge ruled that adding it violated federal law.
Workers began taking down the signage early Saturday (June 13) morning after the center was ordered to comply with a court ruling.
A large tarp covered the building while crews worked overnight to remove the letters.
The move follows a legal battle over the decision to rename the famous Washington, DC arts venue.
The 80-year-old's allies had previously added his name to the building, website, and promotional materials after he took control of the center's board and installed loyalists during his second term.
However, US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the change broke a 1964 law requiring the institution to remain named after former President John F. Kennedy.
"Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it," Cooper wrote.
An appeals court later rejected a last-minute effort to delay the ruling, forcing the center to move ahead with removing the signage while the wider court battle continues.
Supporters and critics react
A small crowd gathered outside the Kennedy Center to watch the president's name come down.
"I just wanted to see (Trump's) name gone," patron JoAnn Jones told CNN. "When a person wants to put their name on a building that you had nothing to do with, you did no work, you just, you don't deserve it."
Jones said she felt "disgust" when Trump's name was first added to the building.
Former John F. Kennedy Presidential Library employee Jon Knepp said the ruling sends a message to "get rid of the nonsense of just slapping your name on stuff that doesn't belong to you."
A video shared online shows protesters chanting "Take it down" as crews prepared to remove the signage.
Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, who helped lead the legal challenge, celebrated the decision.
"We know we're on the right side of justice and the law," Beatty said. "No matter what happens, we're going to continue to fight for the Kennedy family."
After learning the name had been removed, Beatty posted a video of herself dancing on social media with the caption: "POV: When you protect the Kennedy Center."
Legal fight isn't over
Despite the ruling, Trump's supporters have vowed to continue challenging the decision.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, previously said the board remained committed to restoring the name change.
"We remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy," she said.
Daravi added that the center was "confident" an appeals court would "uphold the Board's will to recognize President Trump's historic contributions to our nation's cultural center".
The controversy extends beyond the name itself as Cooper's ruling also temporarily blocked plans by the Trump-appointed board to shut down the center for two years as part of a proposed renovation project.
Trump had praised the renaming during a cabinet meeting earlier this year. "We're fixing up what was the Kennedy Centre. I was honoured when the board changed the name a little bit," he said. "Actually, it shows that the Republicans and the Democrats, they worked together. It's really something. We work together."
The president had also previously described the center as "rusted, rotted, and rat and bug infested."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the renovation proposal, saying: "The structural integrity of the building, the deterioration issues with the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, the HVAC systems, needed massive repairs."
"And President Trump was willing to get out, raise private funds, dedicate his time as a master builder to restore this building. And now, a judge says 'No'."
Meanwhile, Kennedy Center officials recently approved a resolution honoring Trump's "profound dedication" to the institution and establishing a "Trump Kennedy Center Fund" designed to raise additional private donations alongside the $257 million allocated through Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill."
Whether Trump will personally contribute to the fund remains unclear.
.webp_QQJmGo?tr=cr-345.0.1535.1190,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
.jpg_KxNZRz?tr=cr-0.0.1024.683,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
.webp_ke6C2y?tr=cr-169.8.1505.1344,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
.webp_QQJmGo?tr=cr-345.0.1535.1190,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)