Kennedy Center Faces Backlash Over Trump's Name Removal Delay
WHO:
NY Post - The Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board.
Forbes - Kennedy Center officials.
CBS News - Roma Davari, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations.
CNN - Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who filed a lawsuit against the name change.
WHAT:
CBS News - The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted to establish a new endowment fund named the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund” to recognize Trump's contributions, despite the recent court ruling against the name change.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center announced it would be closing down for a period of two years, starting on July 4, claiming the building is in a state of neglect and in need of significant renovations.
Forbes - The tarp obscuring the Kennedy Center's sign has been reported to still be up, blocking public view of the building days after Trump's name was removed.
Forbes - The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted to appeal the federal judge’s ruling that mandated Trump’s name be removed, and they are pursuing an appeal that could take weeks.
CBS News - The Kennedy Center's new endowment fund, named the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund,” is intended to focus on the “physical disrepair” of the building.
Alternet - Trump announced that the Kennedy Center would be closing down for a period of two years, starting on July 4, claiming the building is in a state of neglect and in need of significant renovations.
NY Post - The Kennedy Center board filed a request for a stay to halt a federal judge's order requiring Trump's name to be removed by June 12.
Forbes - A large tarp has been blocking the Kennedy Center's sign after Trump's name was removed, obscuring the view for onlookers.
CNN - The Kennedy Center's exterior remained covered with tarps after the removal of Trump's name, causing confusion among visitors.
CBS News - The Kennedy Center is establishing a new endowment fund named the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund” to recognize Trump's contributions.
WHERE:
NY Post - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.
CNN - The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
NY Post - The request for a stay was filed on June 11, and the name removal was mandated by June 12.
Forbes - The tarp was still up as of Monday morning following the removal of Trump's name.
CNN - The removal of Trump's name occurred on Saturday, following a federal judge's order.
WHY:
Alternet - The Kennedy Center board feels that the building's physical disrepair has been neglected in the past, prompting the establishment of the new endowment fund.
Alternet - The Kennedy Center board feels that the building's physical disrepair has been neglected in the past.
Forbes - The removal was in compliance with a court order issued by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who ruled that the Kennedy Center's name cannot be changed without congressional approval.
CNN - The legal challenge was initiated by Rep. Joyce Beatty, who argued that the name change was unlawful.
HOW:
CBS News - The Kennedy Center's officials indicated in legal filings that they would restore Trump’s name should they win their appeal against the court ruling.
Forbes - The Kennedy Center's lawyers stated in a court filing that they have “removed signage ‘that purports to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump.’”
Forbes - The Kennedy Center's lawyers stated they are in “full compliance” with the court order, having removed signage that purported to rename the center after Trump.
CNN - Crews erected scaffolding and hung tarps to obscure the removal of Trump's name from the building.
(UPDATED June 16, 2026 01:49 UTC)
The Kennedy Center's board of trustees has voted to create a new endowment fund called the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund” to honor Trump's contributions, despite a recent court ruling that blocked the name change. In the meantime, the Kennedy Center announced it will close for two years starting on July 4, citing significant renovations needed due to the building's state of neglect. Officials have indicated that if they win their appeal against the court ruling, they plan to restore Trump's name to the center, while a tarp continues to obscure the building's sign, blocking public view.
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(UPDATED June 15, 2026 20:09 UTC)
The Kennedy Center's board of trustees has voted to appeal a federal judge's ruling that requires Trump’s name to be removed, a process that could take several weeks. In the meantime, the center has established a new endowment fund called the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund,” aimed at addressing the building's physical disrepair. Additionally, Trump announced that the Kennedy Center will close for two years starting on July 4, citing significant renovations needed due to neglect.
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(UPDATED June 15, 2026 18:30 UTC)
The Kennedy Center board has filed a request for a stay to halt a federal judge's order that mandated the removal of Trump's name by June 12, while crews have covered the center's exterior with tarps, obscuring the view for visitors. This name removal was in compliance with a court ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who determined that any name change requires congressional approval, following a legal challenge initiated by Rep. Joyce Beatty. In a move to recognize Trump's contributions, the Kennedy Center is also establishing a new endowment fund called the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund.”