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The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has instructed staff to remove references to President Donald Trump from official materials after a federal court ruled that the renowned Washington, D.C., institution cannot legally be renamed without congressional approval.
According to sources familiar with the directive, the Kennedy Center’s general counsel issued a memo on Thursday ordering employees to immediately update email signatures, letterhead, and other documents to restore the venue’s official name. Staff were told to use either “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or simply “Kennedy Center” in all communications and materials.
The memo also requires the removal of Trump-related branding from signage, brochures, websites, and other public-facing assets by June 12. The move marks the first significant step toward reversing the controversial name change introduced in December, when Trump’s name was added to the iconic performing arts center.
The legal dispute began after Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a member of the Kennedy Center’s board, challenged the decision in court. On May 29, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center’s name could not be altered without an act of Congress. The court ordered the Trump administration to remove all physical signage displaying Trump’s name and eliminate references to a “Trump Kennedy Center” from official materials within 14 days.
It remains unclear when Trump’s name will be physically removed from the building itself. The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy following his 1963 assassination, has long served as one of America’s premier cultural institutions.
The controversy comes amid broader efforts by Trump to reshape Washington’s landmark landscape. The president recently announced plans for a new promenade leading to the Lincoln Memorial, a 250-foot ceremonial arch, and a 90,000-square-foot ballroom to be built on the former East Wing site at the White House.
The court ruling represents a significant legal setback for Trump’s efforts to rebrand the Kennedy Center and reinforces congressional authority over the institution’s official designation.
