The Kennedy Center removed Trump’s name from its website on Monday, completing one of the most visible steps in reversing President Donald Trump’s controversial rebranding of the performing arts venue after a federal judge’s order last month.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that the Kennedy Center board violated the law when it added Trump’s name to the institution, and he ordered all references to “Trump Kennedy Center” removed by June 12. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board.
In a memo obtained by CNN, the Kennedy Center’s general counsel directed staff to immediately remove Trump’s name from email signatures, letterheads, and other documents. The directive specified that broader changes—including updates to templates, forms, signage, brochures, and website pages—must be completed by the June 12 deadline.
Judge Cooper wrote in his 94-page opinion that the Kennedy Center’s founding statute “makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral say-so.” He emphasized that “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”
The ruling also blocked Trump’s planned two-year closure of the venue for a $257 million “revitalization project.” Trump had announced in February that the Kennedy Center would shutter starting July 4, 2026, for extensive renovations.
After Cooper’s decision, Trump signaled he was stepping back from his efforts to control the arts center. In a Truth Social post, he stated he had “no interest in continuing” with the Kennedy Center unless he was “free” to do what he wanted, and announced he would instruct the Department of Commerce to arrange a full transfer of the institution to Congress.
The Kennedy Center’s facade still displayed “The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” as of Monday afternoon, though staff are working to remove all signage bearing Trump’s name before the court deadline. The controversy marked a significant setback for Trump’s broader effort to put his stamp on Washington, D.C.’s cultural institutions during his second term.
Sources
- The Guardian — Reported the website removal and confirmed Judge Cooper’s order and ruling details
- CNN — Obtained the Kennedy Center’s internal memo directing staff to remove Trump’s name with June 12 deadline
- Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s office — Confirmed her role in filing the lawsuit that led to the ruling
