Workers Remove Trump's Name from Kennedy Center Following Court Ruling

On June 13, 2026, workers began removing the name 'Donald J. Trump' from the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., after a court ruling deemed the renaming illegal. Crews set up scaffolding and started the removal process shortly after 3 a.m., completing the task before noon. This action followed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who ordered the removal of Trump's name by June 12, citing a violation of a 1964 federal law that established the center's name as 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.' The judge found that the center's board, appointed by Trump, acted illegally in voting to add his name. The Kennedy Center had already removed Trump's name from its website and social media accounts earlier in the week. Rep. Joyce Beatty, who filed the lawsuit for the name removal, stated that the ruling was a victory for the American people. Trump responded to the ruling by criticizing the judge and expressing concerns about the center's safety.