Trump’s Name Removed from Kennedy Center

A worker takes down a letter from President Donald Trump’s name at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. The action occurred on Saturday, June 13, 2026, following a court mandate. The removal followed a Friday deadline and took place less than six months after the name was initially installed. This decision was based on a judicial ruling that affirmed the Center’s name could not change without Congressional consent.

The Kennedy Center’s Executive Director and COO, Charles Matthew Floca, confirmed in court documents that Trump’s name was removed despite weather delays. His name also disappeared from the center’s online presence. The change occurred soon after Trump, during his second term, replaced the Kennedy Center’s leadership and was then named chairman by newly appointed trustees. His name was added, temporarily changing it to “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

The Trump administration unsuccessfully appealed to keep his name, arguing rebranding attracted donations crucial for renovations. They claimed that without Trump’s name, fundraising would stop, and already raised funds might need to be returned. An appeals court rejected this argument late Friday.

On Friday, workers built scaffolding around the area where Trump’s name was installed in December 2025. During a pre-dawn operation, they covered the scaffolding in tarpaulin before detaching the metallic letters. The Kennedy Center had sought a brief deadline extension due to forecasted Friday night thunderstorms in Washington D.C. Ultimately, workers began the name removal under cover of tarpaulin.

Despite the rain and storms, a crowd gathered to witness the event. Some criticized the use of tarpaulin with shouts of “Cover up!” and “Cowards!” Krystal Brewer, part of a social justice advocacy group, viewed the removal as essential for accountability and preserving government checks and balances. She expressed frustration with what she saw as Trump’s effort to impose his mark on the capital.

Protesters, waving U.S. flags and holding signs, watched the process. Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, who filed the lawsuit leading to the name’s removal, observed the event and expressed her satisfaction on social media. Meanwhile, another observer, nurse Mary Foltz, considered the tarpaulin a symbol of the administration’s lack of transparency, calling the situation a “meme.”

This event follows controversial actions from Trump, including the White House East Wing’s demolition to create a ballroom and hanging his banners on federal buildings.