Workers have begun removing former President Donald Trump's name from the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., after a federal court ruling. On June 13, laborers were seen on scaffolding in front of the iconic building, with white tarps obscuring the removal process.
The day before, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a last-ditch appeal from the Trump-controlled Kennedy Center board to block his earlier order requiring the name's removal. On May 29, Judge Cooper ruled that the building had been renamed illegally, emphasizing that only Congress has the authority to pass legislation for such a change. He set a 14-day deadline for the removal.
In his June 12 decision, Judge Cooper stated that the public interest is "rarely served by 'maintaining' the 'unlawful' actions of the government."
Trump, a real estate heir and developer, built his career on branding his name across properties, which still appear on condominiums, casinos, and golf courses worldwide. He applied a similar approach to his presidency, renaming the now-defunct U.S. Institute of Peace as the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace. The White House is also pushing to feature Trump's image on a proposed $250 bill to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The State Department has said it will issue special passports featuring Trump's image and signature to commemorate the event. Trump has also pursued several controversial construction projects in Washington, including demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build a grand ballroom.
In December 2025, after appointing loyalists to the Kennedy Center board, they voted to rename the center, and the words "Donald J. Trump" were added to the building's facade shortly after. Several artists canceled performances following the change. Judge Cooper also temporarily blocked Trump's plan to close the center for two years for renovation. In response to the ruling, Trump said he "lost interest in continuing" involvement with the institution.
