Donald Trump's name has been removed from the Kennedy Center building in Washington, ending the controversy over the addition to the center's name.
The development began after Trump appointed new members to the center's board in early 2025. In December, this team took steps to add the former president's name to the center and official materials; the building was labeled "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
This move sparked cancellations and protests among artists. The disruption of events led to chaos at the center and a reported decline in ticket sales.
Trump supporters argued that renovations were needed and even proposed closing the center for two years. In response, Ohio Democratic Representative and Kennedy Center trustee Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington to reverse the name change and halt the planned closure.
In May, Judge Casey Cooper ruled that Trump's side bypassed Congress by unilaterally changing the name. The ruling emphasized that the center's name legally remains John F. Kennedy and that no other official name or form of commemoration can be used without proper authorization.
The court ordered the removal of all traces of Trump's name from the building, including signs and stationery, within 14 days. A last-minute appeal by Trump's team was also rejected.
Trump's name had already been removed from the center's website, emails, and printed materials. The inscription on the building was the last remaining trace and has now been removed.
This ruling was not the only legal setback for Trump's side at the Kennedy Center. In early June, a Washington judge also dismissed a lawsuit filed against jazz drummer Chuck Redd, which alleged breach of contract due to the cancellation of a Christmas concert.
