President Donald Trump’s name has been removed from the Kennedy Center after a federal court ruled the change was unlawful.
The controversy began when Trump allies, after taking control of the Kennedy Center board, renamed the venue the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” Critics argued the move violated federal law, which designates the institution as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy and states only Congress can change its name.
In late May, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the addition of Trump’s name was illegal and ordered it removed, giving officials two weeks to comply. After an appeals court rejected a delay, workers removed the lettering on June 13 as onlookers gathered outside, some cheering the decision and others protesting.
Supporters of the ruling, including lawmakers and long-time patrons of the Kennedy Center, called it a victory for the law and for preserving the institution’s original purpose. Critics of the change said it was inappropriate to attach a living political figure’s name to a congressionally established memorial.
Trump allies vowed to continue legal efforts, arguing the decision would be appealed and that the name change reflected his contributions to the arts center. The dispute also ties into broader tensions over renovation plans and control of the institution, which remains under legal and political scrutiny.