Judge says Trump-backed board’s move to add president’s name unlawful, requires Congressional approval.
Published On 13 Jun 2026
Workers have begun removing the name of United States President Donald Trump from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC following a court ruling.
On Saturday, workers were seen on scaffolding in front of the iconic building, with white awning obscuring the removal process.
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A day earlier, US District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a last minute appeal by the center’s Trump-aligned board to block an earlier ruling calling for the president’s name to be removed.
On May 29, Cooper ruled that the building had been illegally renamed, noting that only the US Congress has the authority to pass legislation to make such a change.
He set a 14-day deadline for the removal.
In his decision on Friday, Cooper said that the public interest “is rarely served by the ‘perpetuation’ of ‘unlawful’ governmental action”.
Trump, a real estate and development heir, built his career on the ubiquitous branding of his name, which remains emblazoned across apartment buildings, casinos and golf courses in various parts of the world.
He has taken a similar approach to the presidency, renaming the since defunct US Institute of Peace, the Donald J Trump US Institute of Peace.
The White House is pushing to put Trump’s image on a $250 bill marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.
The US State Department has said it will issue special passports with Trump’s image and signature to mark the event.
Trump has also pursued several controversial construction projects in the US capital, including knocking down the east wing of the White House to build a sprawling ballroom.
A legal challenge to the project by the National Trust for Historic Preservation was making its way through the federal courts.
Trump stacked the governing board of the Kennedy Center with loyalists upon taking office.
They voted in December to change the name, with ‘Donald J Trump’ added to the building’s facade shortly after.
Several artists cancelled performances after the change.
Judge Cooper has also temporarily blocked Trump’s plan to close the center for two years for renovations.
Trump responded to that ruling by saying he had “no interest in continuing” his involvement with the institution.