The Kennedy Center has begun removing President Donald Trump’s name from its branding following a federal court ruling, with staff instructed to revert to its original title by June 12, according to a memo obtained by CBS News and The Atlantic. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, mandates the removal of all references to the center being named for Trump, including signage, documents, and digital materials, after a board led by Trump allies had renamed it the “Trump Kennedy Center” in December. The move comes as the center faces legal challenges over its plans to close for $257 million in renovations starting July 5, though the court did not outright block the closure.
Legal Battle Over the Name Change
The dispute stems from a lawsuit filed by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a Kennedy Center trustee, who argued the board overstepped its authority by renaming the institution. Judge Cooper ruled that the board violated legal requirements by altering the center’s name without proper oversight, ordering the removal of Trump’s name within 14 days of May 29. “The institution’s title, as represented on the façade of the Center, any other physical or digital signage, and official materials” must now reflect “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center,” the court specified. A memo from the center’s general counsel, obtained by CBS News, directed staff to comply immediately, including updating email signatures, letterhead, and promotional materials.
The Atlantic reported that the center’s lawyers issued detailed guidance to departments, requiring “every other reference to the ‘Trump Kennedy Center’” to be erased. This includes contracts, agreements, and signage, with facilities and marketing teams facing a June 12 deadline for physical changes. The court’s order also paused the board’s plans to shutter the center for two years of renovations, though it stopped short of mandating the building remain open. “The Court did not rule that the Center must stay open during the renovations,” the memo stated, leaving the board to “consider its options” while evaluating legal avenues to preserve the project.
Trump’s Reaction and Legal Challenges
Trump reacted swiftly to the ruling, calling the judge “a disaster” on social media and predicting the center would “soon be closed, probably never to open again.” His administration later announced it would abandon the renovation proposal and explore transferring management to Congress, a move the White House framed as a response to the court’s decision. However, the Constitution’s Property Clause already grants Congress authority over federal property, a point highlighted by FOX 5 DC. The center’s vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, said the institution is “complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization,” though the full scope of those options remains unclear.
For more on this story, see Trump can’t rename Kennedy Center or close it for renovation for now, judge says.
The court’s decision also touched on the broader legal framework governing the Kennedy Center. Cooper emphasized that while the board’s name change was unlawful, the court would not “dictate how the Center should be run” or prescribe a specific plan for its future. “Beyond that, the Court will let the parties play on,” he wrote. This leaves the board with considerable leeway, though the name change and closure plans remain in limbo. The center’s original name, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” was restored in the memo, reflecting the legal requirement to revert to its formal title.
The Timeline of the Conflict
The conflict began in December 2025, when the Kennedy Center’s board—led by Trump allies—voted to rename the institution the “Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” By the following morning, crews had installed 18 letters on the building’s marble facade, a change that was swiftly reversed after the court’s May 29 ruling. The Atlantic noted that the removal of the name was “quietly dismantled,” with staff working to erase all traces of the rebranding. The court’s order required the center to remove all references to Trump within 14 days, a deadline that falls on June 12.
The renovations, which were initially scheduled to begin July 5, are now in question. The center’s memo stated that it would “provide further guidance shortly” on whether the facility will remain open during the work. The $257 million project, which includes updates to the venue’s infrastructure, had been a focal point of the board’s plans, but the court’s intervention has created uncertainty. Meanwhile, other federal projects, such as a $1.5 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, continue unaffected, according to FOX 5 DC.
Broader Implications for Federal Institutions
The case highlights the tension between executive authority and legal oversight in managing federal assets. The Kennedy Center, a landmark in Washington, D.C., has long been a symbol of national cultural heritage, and its recent rebranding under Trump sparked debates over the role of political figures in shaping public institutions. The court’s decision underscores the limits of board discretion, even when backed by executive influence. As the center navigates the legal and operational fallout, its future remains uncertain, with the board’s next steps likely to determine whether the facility will remain open or face prolonged closure.
The broader implications extend to how federal properties are governed. The court’s ruling reinforces the principle that even well-intentioned changes must adhere to legal frameworks, preventing unilateral decisions by boards with political ties. For the Kennedy Center, the immediate challenge is compliance with the June 12 deadline, but the long-term question revolves around its ability to balance legal constraints with its mission as a cultural institution. As the center moves forward, the outcome will serve as a test case for the intersection of law, politics, and public administration in the U.S.
