Kennedy Center lawyers tell staff to remove references to Trump in signage

Trump administrationKennedy Center lawyers tell staff to remove references to Trump in signageAttorneys for the center said the signage must revert to previous names like The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by June 12.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on May 29.Cliff Owen / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 4, 2026, 3:34 PM EDTBy Gary Grumbach and Alexandra MarquezThe Kennedy Center’s lawyers on Thursday directed staff at the iconic venue to remove President Donald Trump’s name from all official signage to comply with a federal judge’s order from last week.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Staff were told in an email from the Office of the General Counsel to “Remove any references to the “Trump-Kennedy Center” or “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” and instead “revert to ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ or ‘the Kennedy Center” or ‘the Center.’” The directive also applies to email signatures, letterhead, signage, brochures and website pages.“The Court ruled that the Board acted beyond its authority in adding President Trump’s name to the Center and gave the Center 14 days from May 29 to remove all references to the Center being named for anyone other than John F. Kennedy,” the letter obtained by NBC News states. It gives a June 12 deadline for compliance.The directive comes after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled last week that the president’s handpicked board lacked the authority to change the Kennedy Center’s name when it voted in December to add Trump’s name.A day after the board’s vote last year, the longtime Washington landmark on the shores of the Potomac River donned Trump’s name on its facade. As of Thursday afternoon, Trump’s name remains on the Kennedy Center exterior.Add NBC News to GoogleFederal judge blocks Trump fro...