President Trump's name was removed from the front of the Kennedy Center on June 13, 2026, as stated in a court filing. This action followed federal court decisions that denied attempts to delay the removal deadline. The administration confirmed in the filing that it had removed signage that indicated the Kennedy Center was named after Trump, updated the center's website, and withdrew related trademark applications.
Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center's president and executive director, noted in a court filing that Trump's name has been eliminated from all physical signage, the website, and various documents. A tarp now covers the area where Trump's name was displayed, but it is unclear how long it will remain.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ruled last month that Trump's name was added illegally to the center and ordered its removal by June 12. The Trump administration's request for a stay on this ruling was denied, and a subsequent request for an extension was granted until noon EDT on June 13 due to weather delays.
The Justice Department sought to appeal Cooper's ruling, but a panel of appellate judges rejected the request for an immediate stay. The government argued that changing the center's name now could lead to public confusion and affect fundraising efforts.
Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, who opposed the name change, criticized the administration's appeal as a last-minute effort to manipulate the judicial process. She argued that the administration would likely not succeed on appeal and that compliance with the court's order should proceed as planned.
The Kennedy Center, established as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, was renamed by a board aligned with Trump in December. Beatty's legal challenge contended that only Congress could authorize such a name change. The center's website has already reflected the removal of Trump's name from its materials.