Kennedy Center Removes President Trump’s Name From Branding
on Jun 09, 2026
Kennedy Center To Remove President Trump From Branding
The Kennedy Center has started to remove President Donald Trump’s name from its branding following a federal court ruling that ordered the institution to do so.
Although the large “Donald J. Trump” lettering remains on the exterior of the building, the Kennedy Center’s general counsel told staff in a memo that the signage must be removed by June 12 to comply with the court order.
The memo also instructed employees to immediately update official Kennedy Center materials.
“To comply with this order, you must immediately change email signatures, letterheads, and other documents to reflect the name ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ or simply ‘Kennedy Center,’” the memo told employees.
In 2025, President Trump first removed the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and installed his own appointees, who later elected him chairman and voted to add his name to the center’s official title.
Trump Hosts Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Back in December 2025, the President defied Kennedy Center Honors tradition by hosting their annual ceremony.
At past Kennedy Center Honors, the president and first lady typically sit beside the honorees in the balcony. However, during his first term, President Donald Trump notably avoided attending the ceremony every year.
Upon being inaugurated as the 47th president, Trump had his eye on the Kennedy Center. Unanimously selected as chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, he had been working to renovate the institution and reprioritize its funding.
Details Surrounding The Lawsuit
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who serves as an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board, filed a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Trump administration from attaching President Trump’s name to the performing arts venue.
“Congress likewise took pains to ensure that no other memorial-like dedication would grace the Center’s public spaces,” District Judge Christopher R. Cooper wrote in his 94-page ruling issued last week. “As a result, the Kennedy Center Board’s decision to rename the Center, along with its decision to affix President Trump’s name to the building’s façade, violate Congress’s unequivocal mandate.”
The president has also challenged other recent court rulings, including one that prevented the administration from shutting down the venue for scheduled renovations.
