Staff at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have begun removing all references to former President Donald Trump from the venue [1].

The action follows a federal judge's ruling that the addition of the former president's name to the Washington, D.C. institution was illegal [2]. This court-ordered scrubbing represents a significant reversal of naming honors at one of the most prominent cultural landmarks in the U.S. [1].

Lawyers for the Kennedy Center have instructed staff to complete the removal process by June 12, 2026 [4]. The process was set in motion after the federal judge issued the ruling in late May 2026 [2].

The center is now tasked with identifying and erasing all mentions of Trump across the facility. While the specific number of plaques or inscriptions has not been detailed, the legal mandate requires a total scrubbing of these references to comply with the court's finding [3].

This directive comes as the institution works to align its physical branding with the legal requirements established by the judiciary. The deadline of June 12 [4] leaves the staff with a narrow window to ensure all illegal references are gone from the premises [2].

“Staff have begun removing all references to former President Donald Trump from the venue.”

This ruling underscores the legal constraints surrounding the naming of public and quasi-public institutions in the U.S. By declaring the addition of the name illegal, the court has asserted that administrative or political preference cannot override the established legal framework governing the Kennedy Center's honors and designations.