Trump's Name Removed from Kennedy Center Amid Court Order, Tarp Still Obscures Facade
A federal judge ordered the removal of Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and while the signage has been taken down, plastic sheeting continues to cover the building.
A U.S. district judge ordered the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to remove former President Donald Trump's name from its façade after a board decision to add it was deemed unlawful without congressional approval. The court ruled that the venue must retain only the name of President John F. Kennedy and directed the removal by June 12.
Crews dismantled the lettering on Friday, but workers subsequently installed long strips of plastic sheeting that conceal the area where the name had been displayed. The covering remains in place, preventing a clear view of the now-unmarked entrance.
"Congress made it crystal clear that the building is to be named after former President John F. Kennedy and cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial," Judge Christopher Cooper said in his ruling.
The removal and the continued use of the tarps have drawn attention on social media, where users have commented on the visual concealment. The incident highlights the legal limits on unilateral naming decisions for federally funded cultural institutions.
