Kennedy Center Hides Trump’s Name Under Tarp After Court Ruling

WHO:

Forbes - Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi stated the tarps are up to repair the marble facade.

Forbes - U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled on the case involving the Kennedy Center.

Forbes - Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., criticized the Kennedy Center for keeping the tarps up.

Forbes - Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., accused the Kennedy Center of hiding the sign.

Forbes - Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, filed the original lawsuit challenging the addition of Trump’s name.

WHAT:

Forbes - The Kennedy Center has covered the area where Trump’s name was removed with tarps for six straight days.

Forbes - The Kennedy Center has removed signage that purported to rename the center after Trump.

Forbes - The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted to appeal the federal judge’s ruling mandating the removal of Trump’s name.

Forbes - The Kennedy Center established an endowment fund called the “Trump Kennedy Center Fund.”

The Source - Workers removed the 18-letter sign that read “The Donald J. Trump and” from the exterior of the Kennedy Center.

WHERE:

Forbes - The Kennedy Center, a cultural institution in Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

Forbes - The Kennedy Center must inform the court of the status of its construction project by a specified Friday.

Forbes - The Kennedy Center's renovations are set to begin on July 5, 2026.

Forbes - The original ruling by Judge Cooper occurred in late May.

WHY:

Forbes - The court ruling mandated the removal of Trump’s name due to the Kennedy Center’s establishing law, which requires congressional approval for name changes.

Forbes - The Kennedy Center's decision to close for renovations was deemed “ill-informed and seemingly preordained” by Judge Cooper.

HOW:

Forbes - The tarps were put up in the early hours of Saturday as workers removed Trump’s name.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 19:50 UTC)

The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. has been covered with tarps for six consecutive days as it undergoes renovations following a court ruling that mandated the removal of Trump’s name due to the center's established law requiring congressional approval for such changes. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center's decision to close for renovations was “ill-informed and seemingly preordained,” and the center's board of trustees has voted to appeal this ruling. Renovations are set to begin on July 5, 2026, and the Kennedy Center must inform the court of the status of its construction project by a specified Friday.