Trump Reverses Kennedy Center Takeover After Federal Judge Blocks Renaming and Closure
Workers removed President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's marble facade in the early hours of Saturday, June 13, after both a federal district court and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected last-minute bids by the Trump-appointed board and the Department of Justice to halt the removal. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had ruled on May 29 that the board acted illegally when it unilaterally renamed the institution the 'Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' in December 2025, finding that only Congress has authority to change the center's name. The removal, which followed months of legal battles, artist boycotts, and declining ticket sales, leaves the broader appeal still pending before the D.C. Circuit and Trump still serving as the center's board chairman.
Workers began pulling Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's marble facade shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, completing the work in roughly 30 minutes behind white tarps, hours after a court-ordered Friday midnight deadline was narrowly missed due to thunderstorms that the DOJ cited as a safety concern for workers. The removal followed a cascade of failed legal maneuvers: the Trump-appointed board voted Thursday to seek a stay of Judge Cooper's May 29 ruling, Cooper denied that request Friday afternoon, the board then appealed to the D.C. Circuit, and a three-judge panel — including one Trump appointee — also denied an emergency administrative stay Friday evening. Cooper's underlying ruling, brought by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio as an ex officio board member, found that the 1964 federal statute establishing the Kennedy Center 'makes crystal clear' the institution is named for President Kennedy and cannot be formally renamed by the board alone. The same ruling also blocked the administration's plan to close the center for a two-year renovation starting July 4, though Cooper left open the possibility of a future lawful closure after proper deliberation. Trump's takeover of the center beginning in February 2025 — in which he replaced the entire board, named himself chairman, and installed allies including Ric Grenell and later Matt Floca — prompted an exodus of artists including Issa Rae, Bela Fleck, and Renée Fleming, the departure of the National Symphony Orchestra's executive director, and reported declines in ticket sales and donations. The DOJ's appeal to the D.C. Circuit remains pending, meaning Trump's name could theoretically be restored if the administration prevails, and Trump has suggested transferring the institution back to Congress.
What's missing
The full scope and independent verification of the Kennedy Center's claimed structural deficiencies — cited by the board as justification for the two-year closure — has not been independently assessed in any of the sources; the architect of the 2019 expansion disputed the severity of the damage, but no neutral engineering assessment was presented. Additionally, the precise legal pathway and timeline for Trump's stated intention to transfer the institution back to Congress has not been clarified by any source.
How coverage differed
Left-leaning outlets such as The Atlantic and The Guardian emphasized the legal vindication of Rep. Beatty and the institutional damage caused by Trump's tenure, framing the story as a democratic and cultural victory. Right-leaning outlets such as Fox News and the Washington Examiner gave more prominence to the board's legal arguments — including fundraising harm and the building's structural needs — and Fox News highlighted the judge's Obama appointment and a misconduct complaint against him, framing the story more as an ongoing legal dispute than a settled outcome. Reason took a distinct libertarian angle, arguing the episode illustrates the inherent problems of government control over arts institutions regardless of which political side exercises it.
What different sources said
- ReasonRight
Trump's Failed Kennedy Center Takeover Shows Why Art and Government Don't Mix
Trump’s hand-picked Kennedy Center board mounts last-ditch effort to keep his name
- AxiosCenter
Kennedy Center board to appeal judge's order to remove Trump's name
- Washington ExaminerRight
Kennedy Center board to appeal order striking Trump’s name from building
- CNN WorldCenter
Trump administration appeals judge’s ruling over removing president’s name from Kennedy Center
- The AtlanticLeft
The Kennedy Center Is a Metaphor for De-Trumpification
- Washington TimesRight
Kennedy Center board seeks delay of deadline to remove Trump's name
- ABC NewsCenter
DOJ appeals Kennedy Center ruling ahead of deadline to remove Trump’s name
- The HillCenter
Kennedy Center removes Trump name from website, YouTube page
- The IndependentLeft
Kennedy Center removes Trump’s name from website after judge’s order - but it’s still on the building
- CBS NewsCenter
White House to appeal judge's order to remove Trump's name from Kennedy Center
- AP NewsCenter
Kennedy Center board seeks delay of ruling ordering removal of Trump's name by Friday deadline
Kennedy Center board to fight order to remove Trump’s name as deadline looms
Kennedy Center Votes to Appeal Order That Trump’s Name Be Removed
- NPR NewsLeft
Kennedy Center board seeks pause of ruling ordering removal of Trump's name
- EuronewsCenter
Federal judge rejects bid to halt removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center building
- ForbesCenter
Judge Blocks Kennedy Center Bid To Keep Trump's Name — As Construction Crews Prepare To Take It Down
- VarietyCenter
Workers Start Pulling Trump’s Name Off Kennedy Center Building in Early Morning Hours
- The Straits TimesCenter
Judge rejects bid to halt removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center
- South China Morning PostCenter
Kennedy Centre loses last-ditch attempt to keep Trump’s name on building
- New York PostRight
Trump’s name removal from Kennedy Center pushed to Saturday due to thunderstorms
- The Jerusalem PostRight
Trump administration misses deadline to remove his name from Kennedy Center
- Times of IndiaCenter
Donald Trump's name to come off Kennedy Center after court battle
- CBCLeft
Appeals court rejects Kennedy Center leaders' ask to keep Trump's name on building
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center in predawn operation
- CTV NewsCenter
Judge denies Kennedy Center request for pause in ruling ordering Trump's name removed from building
- PBS NewsHourLeft
WATCH LIVE: Scaffolding goes up at Kennedy Center ahead of deadline to remove Trump's name
- PoliticoLeft
Kennedy Center board seeks delay of ruling ordering removal of Trump’s name by Friday deadline
- Al JazeeraLeft
Judge keeps order in place to remove Trump’s name from Kennedy Center
- Fox NewsRight
Trump's name remains on Kennedy Center as appeals court weighs emergency request
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
Trump’s name removed from Kennedy Centre in predawn operation
- Times of IsraelCenter
Workers begin removing Trump’s name from Kennedy Center, hours after court deadline
- UPICenter
Kennedy Center board appeals removing Trump's name
- CNBCCenter
Trump name still must come down from Kennedy Center, judge says
- WTOPCenter
If and when Trump’s name is removed from the Kennedy Center, you can watch it live
- CastanetCenter
Trump's name poised to be removed from Kennedy Center after judge denies last-minute move to keep it
- NDTVCenter
US Court Rejects Bid To Halt Removal Of Trump Name From Kennedy Center
- NewsweekCenter
Kennedy Center Under Imminent Deadline to Remove Trump's Name
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Trump's name set to be stripped from Kennedy Center as appeal fails
- DeadlineCenter
Kennedy Center Board Seeks Court Ruling To Keep Donald Trump’s Name On Facade As It Appeals Judge’s Decision
- The HinduCenter
Judge keeps order in place to remove Trump's name from Kennedy Centre
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