Workers started removing President Donald Trump’s name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center early on Saturday after the venue missed a court-ordered deadline and sought extra time to complete the work.
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The move followed a federal judge’s order requiring the historic performing arts institution to remove Trump’s name from its building and related materials. The center had been required to certify compliance by 11:59 p.m. on Friday but later informed the court that severe weather had delayed the process.
Deadline Missed After Storm Delays
Attorneys from the Justice Department, representing the Kennedy Center, said late Friday that thunderstorms in the Washington area had slowed progress. They told the court that crews expected to finish removing the signage during the early hours of Saturday.
US District Judge Casey Cooper had set the Friday night deadline. As of early Saturday, the judge had not publicly responded to the center’s request for additional time.
Workers spent Friday assembling scaffolding beneath the building’s exterior signage. Shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday, crews appeared to enclose the structure with protective covering, limiting public visibility of the work. Video recorded through a gap in the covering later appeared to show workers taking down letters from the sign.
A crowd gathered nearby during the overnight operation, with some people chanting “Shame!” as work continued.
Appeals Court Rejects Last-Minute Request
Earlier on Friday, a federal appeals court declined to halt Cooper’s ruling, rejecting a last-minute effort by the Kennedy Center to delay compliance while the broader legal dispute continues.
The brief, unsigned decision did not provide a detailed explanation. The three-judge panel included Judge Gregory Katsas, appointed by Trump, along with Judges Patricia Millett and Robert Wilkins, both appointed by former President Barack Obama.
While refusing to pause the ruling, the appeals court requested additional legal submissions later this month regarding the center’s effort to suspend the lower court’s order. Until then, the Kennedy Center must continue complying with the judge’s directive.
The ruling requires Trump’s name to be removed not only from the building but also from the center’s website, promotional materials and other affiliated locations.
Donation Concerns Raised
In court filings, Justice Department lawyers argued that restoring the center’s previous name could create confusion if the government ultimately succeeds in overturning the ruling.
They also warned that compliance could affect fundraising. According to the filing, Kennedy Center bylaws require donations to be returned if Trump’s name is removed from the organization’s branding, marketing materials, façade or other affiliated locations.
Government lawyers told the appeals court that hundreds of millions of dollars in donations could be affected if those provisions are triggered.
Protesters and Political Supporters Gather
Protesters remained outside the center throughout Friday, chanting “Take it down” and praising workers involved in the removal effort.
Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who has led the legal challenge, visited the site and expressed support for the court ruling. She said the campaign would continue regardless of further legal action and described the effort as a fight on behalf of the Kennedy family.
Trump’s name was added to the center in December after the board of trustees voted to honour the president. The decision followed major changes to the institution’s leadership and programming and drew criticism from members of the Kennedy family.
At a meeting on Thursday, the board approved a resolution praising Trump’s support for the arts center and created the Trump Kennedy Center Fund to attract additional private donations. Those funds would supplement the $257 million allocated by Congress through Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” It remains unclear whether Trump will personally contribute to the fund.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 13 June 2026