Kennedy Center Directed To Drop Trump's Name By June 12: Report
Yahoo News
Last updated: June 5, 2026
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is removing all references to President Donald Trump's name following a federal judge's ruling. This decision comes after Trump's own withdrawal of interest in controlling the center, which he had previously criticized.
- The Kennedy Center's legal counsel issued a directive for all staff to immediately update documents, including email signatures and letterhead, to remove any mention of President Trump's name. The official name will revert to "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or "Kennedy Center."
- A federal judge ruled that the President lacks the authority to rename the center or close it for renovations for a two-year period. However, the ruling does not prohibit the board from proceeding with repairs or voting to close the center at a later time.
- The future operational status of the Kennedy Center beyond July 5 remains undecided, according to the memo. President Trump had previously expressed his lack of interest in taking control of the center, citing its perceived "woke" nature.
