President Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center - but it's hard to see that
Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 13, 2026. A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's last-minute bid to keep the president's name on the Kennedy Center as a Friday removal deadline neared. Photographer: Aaron
President Donald Trump’s name has been removed from the Kennedy Center, a top official for the art venue confirmed, but onlookers who wanted to see the change were having a hard time doing so.
Big picture view:
Following two court losses, Kennedy Center leadership was forced to remove Trump’s name from the building while a lawsuit over its addition was working its way through the court system. On Saturday, its COO and Executive Director Matt Floca told the federal court that the Kennedy Center has complied with the directive to remove the president’s name from the facade.
What they're saying:
In a filing, Floca explained the board of trustees and the center had removed "all physical signage on the Kennedy Center building and grounds, including the front portico, that purports to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump."
Behind the curtain
People who wanted to watch the removal of Trump’s name or see the former president John F. Kennedy’s name alone on the front of the building were in for a disappointing sight. A giant tarp hung over where Trump’s name had been placed, directly above the 35th president’s name.
A reporter was able to get a view behind the tarp and saw that Trump’s name was no longer on the building, the Associated Press reported. It is unclear when the tarp will be removed.
The backstory:
Shortly after retaking office in 2021, Trump replaced the Center’s leadership and installed a board of trustees that named him president. Soon afterward, Trump’s name was placed on the building above Kennedy’s. Additionally, the Center announced an imminent two-year closure to allow for renovations.
What's next:
The same court order that directed Trump’s name to be removed from the building also put the brakes on the impending closure, which was set to begin in July. In response to the court’s order, Trump has said he would turn the institution over to Congress or may shutter it entirely.
The appellate court’s ruling had only affected Judge Christopher Cooper’s ruling that Trump’s name would need to be removed by July 12. The Kennedy Center board can still decide to appeal Cooper’s May ruling.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press and FOX 5 DC. This story was reported from Orlando.