In brief
On June 12, a federal judge ruled that the Kennedy Center could not bear the former president’s name without congressional approval. The venue complied by removing the name from its signage and digital platforms, prompting a rally by the Hands Off the Arts group. Workers erected scaffolding to erase the letters amid weather delays, while the Trump administration unsuccessfully attempted to block the order. The case underscores ongoing tensions between political influence and the governance of cultural institutions.
The front of the Kennedy Center, a Washington DC cultural venue, no longer bears the name of former President Donald Trump after a federal judge ordered its removal.
Judge Christopher Cooper, in late May, concluded that the center—designated as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy—cannot be renamed without Congress approving the change. The venue confirmed it had fully complied; the name is no longer displayed on the building, its website or related materials.
On Friday crews installed scaffolding around the sign to begin the removal, though a thunderstorm delayed the work until early Saturday. Protesters from Hands Off the Arts gathered around the site, chanting "take it down!" as the workers worked, celebrating an appeals court decision that rejected the Trump administration’s second attempt to pause the judge’s mandate.
While the center’s board changes – including Trump’s appointment as trustee and chairman – have raised questions, the court’s ruling remains in force, and the venue is still slated for a two‑year renovation that could further impact its name and operations.
