The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts removed former President Donald Trump's name from its official website on June 8-9, 2026, following a federal judge's order to undo the renaming of the venue [1, 2]. The removal came after the center’s governing board, dominated by Trump allies, voted in December 2025 to rename the institution the "Trump Kennedy Center" and added Trump's name to the building's exterior facade [1].
However, Trump's name remained displayed on the Kennedy Center's facade as of June 8-9 pending further compliance with the court order [1, 2]. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in late May 2026 that the center could not be renamed without an act of Congress and ordered that Trump's name be removed from all Kennedy Center materials and the building itself within 14 days [1, 2]. The judge also temporarily blocked Trump's plan to close the venue for a two-year renovation scheduled to begin in July 2026 [1, 2].
Trump responded angrily to the ruling, calling the forced removal of his name a "hopeless journey." He said, "Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND’" [1]. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has sought to place his name and image on several government-related sites [1].
The Kennedy Center has referred to itself strictly as the "Kennedy Center" in member communications since June 8, 2026, reflecting compliance with the court order in publicity and materials, although the façade removal deadline remains pending [2]. The scheduled timeline calls for the full removal of Trump's name from the building within 14 days of the May 29 ruling, with the judge's deadline nearing in mid-June [1, 2].
Looking ahead, the Kennedy Center is set to host a ceremony on June 28 for comedian Bill Maher to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor [2]. The ruling blocking renovations also means the planned two-year closure of the venue in July 2026 is currently on hold.
