Kennedy Center ordered to strip Donald Trump's name by June 12

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the addition of President Donald Trump’s name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was unlawful because only Congress may change the center’s name. The judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from all signage, email signatures, letterhead, webpages and other materials, with a compliance deadline of June 12, 2026. The Kennedy Center’s general counsel issued a memo directing staff to update internal and public documents accordingly and to halt the planned two‑year, $257 million renovation that had been approved by the Trump‑appointed board. Trump denounced the ruling on social media, calling it unfair, while the center said it would evaluate legal options while complying with the court order. The decision restores the venue’s original designation, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” and reaffirms that any future renaming requires congressional action.