Kennedy Center workers start to remove Trump’s name after overnight deadline

Published June 13, 2026 8:45am ET | Updated June 13, 2026 8:54am ET



The Kennedy Center began removing President Donald Trump’s name from its facade Friday evening and into the early hours of Saturday, hours after a court-ordered deadline.

Scaffolding went up outside the performing arts center on Friday as dozens of onlookers gathered to watch the removal. In a court filing seeking an extension, the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees said nearby thunderstorms had delayed the work but that “removal work is presently ongoing” and was expected to be completed overnight. An arts advocacy group also arranged a livestream of the effort.

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