The curtain may have come down for President Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center, but the tarp stays up for now. On Saturday (June 13), Matt Floca told a federal court that the institution had complied with an order to remove Trump’s name from the building. Floca is the executive director and chief operating officer of the performing arts venue.
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More Details About Removal Of Trump’s Name From Kennedy Center
In a filing, Matt Floca said the board of trustees and the Kennedy Center had removed “all physical signage on the Kennedy Center building and grounds, including the front portico, that purports to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump.”
Despite the confirmation, it was virtually impossible to see whether the signage had been removed over the past day. A tarp hung over the scaffolding that the workers used to perform that task. It was unclear when the tarp might be removed to reveal the update. The lettering on the building, which had been there for decades, originally said: “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
Tarp aside. A reporter confirmed the letters for Trump’s name were no longer affixed to the building. They were able to peep through a slight opening in the tightly pulled tarp.
Kennedy Center Leadership Pushed To Keep Trump In The Name
By the end, the Kennedy Center’s leadership had pushed against a federal judge’s order to erase Donald Trump’s name from the building. However, two courts rejected the institution’s last-minute request to retain Trump’s name pending an appeal. After severe thunderstorms hit Washington on Friday evening, the Kennedy Center sought one more extension. Center leadership argued in their unsuccessful appeal on Friday that the lower court was interfering with needed renovations.
“The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life-threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted, and in serious danger of falling onto people below,” according to the appeal. “Indeed, total collapse!”
Ultimately, though, Kennedy Center leadership complied with the removal deadline, which was noon Saturday (June 13). With the name reverted, many questions remain about the Kennedy Center’s future. The same May court decision that ordered Trump’s name to be removed from the building also blocked a planned two-year closure for renovations. Those renovations were set to begin next month.
The institution also suggested that the president’s name could be reinstated on the building if the Kennedy Center later wins its appeal. If the court denied the venue’s request for a pause, the Kennedy Center argued it would “be forced to squander time and money — by both removing the signage and then potentially returning it after appeal.”
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The removal of Donald Trump’s name marks the end of one of the more unusual chapters in the Kennedy Center’s history. Construction of the building began in 1964. It was dedicated to the memory of the slain president, Democrat John F. Kennedy and seen as one of the few relatively nonpartisan spaces in Washington, D.C. However, Donald Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his second term.
He rarely discussed the Kennedy Center during his 2024 campaign. Still, Trump moved quickly to oust the institution’s leadership upon returning to office in January 2025. He then replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman. Afterward, his name was quickly added to the building.
The removal of his name marks a setback for Trump. However, he is moving forward with plans to reshape the physical landscape of the nation’s capital in ways not really seen before. For example, the South Lawn of the White House has been transformed into a venue for a UFC match. The match is intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, but also coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday on Sunday.
Let’s also not forget the demolition of the East Wing of the White House. In its place, he’s building a controversial ballroom in its place. Also, he remodeled the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. And he plans extensive renovations of a golf course in East Potomac Park. Both moves could significantly reduce the public’s access to running and biking paths. Additionally, Donald Trump is also moving forward with a triumphal arch that will sit near Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River in Virginia.
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Associated Press journalists Steven Sloan and Emily Wang contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
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