Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center following court order

Jun 15, 2026

Following a federal court order, President Donald Trump's name has been removed from the Kennedy Center. A judge ruled only Congress can change the name, reversing a decision made by a Trump-appointed board that had taken over the institution. The removal was done overnight and concealed by tarps. The ruling also blocked a planned two-year closure of the venue, though the Trump administration has appeals pending.

Kennedy Center name removal

▪The removal occurred around 3 a.m. on a Saturday, when a 14-member crew pried off the 18 letters spelling "The Donald J. Trump and".
▪The name was removed from all physical signage, the organization's website, and other materials.
▪President Donald Trump's name has been removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., following a court order.
▪The Kennedy Center was temporarily renamed "The Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" in December, about six months prior.

Trump administration takeover

▪Before the renaming, President Trump had purged the Kennedy Center's board of directors and replaced its members with his allies.
▪Mallory Miller, a former employee fired after the takeover, co-founded the organization "Hands Off The Arts."
▪The new board installed Trump as chair, which was followed by staff layoffs, artist departures, and a drop in ticket sales.

Court ruling enforcement

▪A D.C. federal judge, Christopher Cooper, ruled that only Congress has the legal power to change the Kennedy Center's name.
▪The judge also blocked the Trump administration from closing the venue for two years of planned renovations.
▪Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty sued the Trump administration over the name change.
▪The court set a deadline of midnight on June 12 for the removal of the bronze letters from the facade.
▪The Trump administration has further appeals pending regarding the court's decision.

Historical iconoclasm examples

▪During Hungary's 1956 revolution against the Soviet Union, crowds destroyed a bronze statue of Stalin in Budapest.
▪In 1776, American patriots toppled a statue of King George III in New York and melted it to make over 42,000 bullets.

Tarp concealment strategy

▪Security guards have flanked the barricaded scaffolding since the name was removed.
▪Large tarps were erected to shield the removal process, and they remained in place afterward, obscuring the building's facade.

Public reaction symbolism

▪Teacher Monica Brooks Murphy, a visitor, said she wanted the center restored to being named solely for President John F. Kennedy.
▪Before the removal, a crowd of more than 200 people gathered, chanting "Take it down!".