Workers began dismantling the signage that carried President Donald Trump’s name from the front façade of the Kennedy Center on Saturday, complying with a court deadline set for Friday, June 12.
Last month, Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the president’s name had been added unlawfully and ordered its removal. The Trump administration tried to pause the order, but the judge rejected the bid to stay the proceedings.
The case is part of a larger dispute over the center’s renaming, which the United States law designates as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Judge Cooper made it clear that renaming the venue without congressional approval is prohibited, and he also blocked any temporary closure for proposed renovations.
On the evening of Friday, crowds gathered as scaffolding was erected and people began chanting “take it down” in protest. The removal process continues into the early hours of Saturday, with workers covering the letters with long plastic sheeting before lifting them.
This event marks a significant blow to President Trump’s rebranding push at the Kennedy Center, a move he spearheaded by replacing trustees and appointing himself as a trustee in February 2025. The legal challenge and public outcry underscore the controversy over the venue’s identity and the limits of presidential influence on national cultural institutions.
