Trump’s Name Removed from Kennedy Center After Court Ruling

In Washington, workers removed President Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This took place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, following a court mandate that required the removal by a Friday deadline. The name had been on the building for less than six months, attached initially without the necessary Congressional approval.

A judge’s decision stated the rename of the Kennedy Center needed Congressional consent. Charles Matthew Floca, the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, acknowledged the removal of the more than a dozen bronze letters from the building’s façade. Despite Floca mentioning weather-related delays, the letters and references to Trump on the Center’s website were removed.

In the early part of his second term, Trump replaced the Kennedy Center’s leadership, appointing new trustees who renamed him as chairman. Subsequently, his name was added to the building, renaming it as “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” On Friday, Trump’s administration attempted to pause the ruling, arguing that his name was vital for drawing donations essential for the Center’s renovation. Their appeal was, however, denied by a higher court that night.

Scaffolding appeared around the building area on Friday where Trump’s name had been applied in December 2025. Framed by tarpaulin due to forecast thunderstorms in Washington D.C., workers took down the metallic letters in a pre-dawn operation. Many gathered, despite the rain, to witness the event. Among them, some criticized the use of tarpaulin, accusing organizers of a “cover-up.”

Krystal Brewer, a 40-year-old social justice advocate, was present. She viewed the removal as a crucial reinforcement of accountability and a rebuke to President Trump’s imposition on the nation’s capital. “It’s about not being able to do something just because you think you’re the most powerful person and can defy the courts,” she stated.

Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who initiated the lawsuit against Trump’s name, witnessed the proceedings. On social media, she expressed satisfaction with the removal process. Another attendee, Mary Foltz, a 60-year-old nurse, called the concealed operation a “metaphor for the Trump administration,” referencing a perceived lack of transparency.

During Trump’s second term, he also ordered the East Wing of the White House demolished for a ballroom and approved large banners of his image on federal buildings. Reflecting on these actions, Brewer appreciated the Kennedy Center returning to its original state. “With all the things he’s trying to destroy and corrupt, it’s nice to see a piece of it being restored,” she concluded.