Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center facade after court ruling
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The name of US President Donald Trump was removed from the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington following a ruling by a US court, which put an end to the controversy surrounding this scandal, according to the Associated Press.
The removal work was completed on Saturday following several court hearings and attempts by the cultural institution’s leadership to delay compliance with the order.
The deadline was set for midnight on Friday, but due to adverse weather conditions and safety concerns, the court agreed to extend it until noon on Saturday. Later, the Kennedy Center administration confirmed that it had complied with the court order.
The day before, an appeals court rejected the center’s management’s final attempt to keep Trump’s name on the building until the case was resolved. After that, workers set up scaffolding and covered the facade with protective sheeting, so the removal process itself went almost unnoticed by visitors.
Background
The legal dispute arose after Congresswoman Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit demanding that the renaming of the Kennedy Center be reversed and that plans to close it for a major renovation be blocked. A federal judge sided with her and ordered Trump’s name removed from the building.
Commenting on the decision, Beatty called it a victory for the rule of law and the first step toward returning the Kennedy Center to the American people.
This story became one of the most high-profile episodes in the history of the cultural institution, established in honor of the 35th US President, John F. Kennedy.
After returning to the White House in 2025, Trump replaced the center’s leadership and formed a new board of trustees, which elected him as its chairman. Subsequently, the president’s name appeared on the building’s facade and on the institution’s official website.
Despite the legal setback, Trump continues to carry out a series of large-scale projects to transform the US capital. In particular, he has initiated the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom, the renovation of the reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial, and has advocated for a major renovation of the golf course in East Potomac Park.
In addition, the President is pushing a project to build a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
At the same time, the future of the Kennedy Center itself remains uncertain. A court has also blocked the planned two-year closure of the building for renovation, and following the layoff of a significant portion of the staff, it is unclear when the facility will be able to resume full operations.
In response to the renaming of sites across the United States in honor of incumbent President Donald Trump, the US Congress plans to ban such practices.
