President Donald Trump’s name must be removed from the Kennedy Center by June 12, according to a memo issued to staff on Thursday following a federal judge’s ruling that the renaming was illegal. PBS News White House correspondent Liz Landers reported that the center’s office of the general counsel directed staff to immediately strip the president’s name from email signatures, letterhead, and other documents.
Quick Facts
- Federal Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center, finding the board acted beyond its authority.
- The Kennedy Center board voted unanimously in December 2025 to add Trump’s name to the building.
- The June 12 deadline gives the center 14 days from the judge’s May 29 order to complete the removal.
- The ruling also blocked the administration’s plan to close the venue for two years of renovations.
The memo directs all templates, forms, signage, brochures, and website pages to be changed by June 12. Staff are instructed to replace Trump’s name with “The Kennedy Center” or “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
The board’s December vote to add Trump’s name prompted immediate legal challenges and drew condemnation from the Kennedy family. Kerry Kennedy wrote on X that “President Kennedy proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer. President Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy’s.”
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Liz Landers reports Kennedy Center must remove Trump’s name by June 12
Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi said in a statement that the center is “complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership.” The center is also reconsidering plans for a lengthy closure during renovations, following the judge’s finding that the board’s closure decision was “ill-informed.”
Sources
- PBS News — Liz Landers’ reporting on the June 12 deadline memo and court ruling.
- The Washington Post — Coverage of Kennedy Center staff directive to remove Trump’s name.
- NBC News — Details on the memo instructing removal from signage and communications.
- WTOP — Reporting on the June 12 deadline and staff compliance.
