Kennedy Center Still Covered After Court-Ordered Removal of Trump's Name

Large striped tarps remained on the Kennedy Center’s exterior on Sunday, preventing visitors from seeing the area where former President Donald Trump’s name had been displayed. The name was removed on Saturday after a federal judge ruled that the addition violated the venue’s naming rules.

Visitors expressed confusion about the continued covering. One intern from New York said he was puzzled that the tarp was still up after the removal, while a Maryland resident noted the change reflected broader concerns about the alteration of national symbols. A nearby Washington resident said he hoped the tarps would be taken down so the facade could be fully visible.

The Kennedy Center has not responded to requests for comment on the ongoing tarping. The removal followed an appeals court decision that declined to pause the district judge’s ruling, which found the venue acted unlawfully by adding Trump’s name to the building named for President John F. Kennedy.

The name was installed in December by the center’s board of trustees, prompting a legal challenge from Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio trustee. The center began dismantling the lettering on Saturday morning, with crews working behind scaffolding.

The legal dispute is expected to continue in the coming weeks as the center considers further steps to comply with the court order.