Kennedy Center Removes Trump Name After Court Order

A U.S. District Court ordered the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to eliminate references to former President Donald Trump, ruling that only Congress can change the venue's name. The center began the removal on June 12, 2026, erecting scaffolding and stripping the lettering from the building's façade. Workers started the work in the afternoon despite a brief rain delay, and crowds gathered to watch, chanting “Take it down.”

The lawsuit was filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex‑officio board member, who argued that the center’s statutory name cannot be altered by the trustees. Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a request to postpone the deadline and affirmed the injunction, giving the center two weeks to remove the name from official messaging. The Kennedy Center has already removed Trump’s name from its website, social media, and ticket communications.

The removal marks the first time the center’s name has been altered since its dedication to President John F. Kennedy, underscoring the legal principle that only Congress may rename the institution.