crews began removing President Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after a federal judge rejected a last-minute attempt by the board to halt the ordEr. The removal, delayed by thunderstorms, follows a legal battle over the center's renaming and a seperate dispute over planned renovations.
Scaffolding went up outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Friday as dozens of onlookers gathered to watch workers remove President Donald Trump s name from the building.
The removal appeared after a federal judge rejected a last-minute attempt by the centers board of trustees to halt the order. In a court filing seeking an extension, the board remarked nearby thunderstorms had delayed the work but that removal work is presently ongoing and was expected to be completed overnight.
Workers later covered the scaffolding with tarps before beginning to remove Trumps name. crews left the site around 3:30 a.m., though the tarps remained in place, making it unclear whether all of the lettering had been taken down. The dispute over the centers name began after Trump returned to office and moved quickly to reshape the institution. Just weeks into his second term, he removed the centers leadership, installed a new board of trustees, and was subsequently named chairman.
His name was then added to the building in December 2025, reading: Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. the revised name sparked controversy and legal challenges. In a ruling earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper,appointed by former President Barack Obama, found that the Kennedy Center had not demonstrated its appeal was likely to succeed and rejected the boards request to block the removal order.
The board made a last-minute attempt to halt the order, but Cooper rejected the request Friday. In addition to ruling that the administration has the authority to tweak the Kennedy Centers name, Cooper also barred the administration from closing the venue for a planned two-year renovation project that was scheduled to begin in July. The Kennedy Center argued in its appeal that the renovations were urgently needed and accused the court of interfering with efforts to address serious structural concerns.
The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted and in serious danger of falling onto people below, the filing stated. Indeed, total collapse! Even as it continued to challenge the ruling, the Kennedy Center took stePs to comply.
A June 4 memo from the Office of General Counsel instructed staff that email signatures, letterhead, and other official documents must refer to the institution as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or simply Kennedy Center. the removal process has drawn significant public attention, with dozens of onlookers gathering to watch the work. The scene outside the iconic building was marked by the presence of media and protesters on both sides of the issue.
The centers board has not publicly commented on the next steps, but legal experts expect further appeals. The renovation project, which was intended to address structural issues and modernize the facility, remains in limbo pending the outcome of the legal battle. The Kennedy Center, one of the nations premier performing arts venues,has hosted countless cultural events and remains a symbol of Washingtons artistic community.
The controversy over its name highlights the ongoing political divisions in the country and the challenges facing institutions caught in the crossfire
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