The Kennedy Center has removed Donald Trump's name from its website following a US district judge's order last month. The removal, which took place on Monday, came ahead of a 12 June deadline set by the center's general counsel to eliminate all references to the former president.
In a memo reported by the Washington Post, the centre's general counsel cited Judge Christopher Cooper's ruling that barred the use of 'Trump Kennedy Center'. Employees were instructed to immediately change email signatures, letterheads, and other documents to reflect the official name, 'The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' or 'Kennedy Center'. Other changes, including to templates, signage, brochures, and website pages, must be completed by 12 June 2026.
Despite the online changes, the front of the venue in Washington DC still reads 'The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts' as of Monday afternoon. Judge Cooper's ruling stated that the centre cannot be renamed without an act of Congress, as its organic statute mandates it be named for President Kennedy.
Cooper also temporarily blocked the centre from closing for renovations this summer, a decision responding to Trump's board approving a $257m 'revitalisation project' that would have shuttered the venue for two years. Following the ruling, Trump criticised the judge on social media, calling it a 'hopeless journey into NEVER NEVER LAND'.
