U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper has ordered the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees to provide an explanation by the end of July 2026 for why a tarp and scaffolding still cover the facade where former President Donald Trump's name was removed [1, 2, 3, 4].
Trump's name was taken down in early June 2026 after the court ruled against the 2025 board decision to rename the venue to include Trump's name alongside John F. Kennedy's, a move that sparked backlash and artist cancellations [1, 2, 3, 4]. The name had originally been added in December 2025 following a controversial vote by the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees [1, 3, 4].
After returning to the White House in 2025, Trump appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and filled the board with loyalists, driving the renaming effort [1, 3, 4]. Several artists canceled scheduled performances in protest. Judge Cooper's recent order also blocked a planned two-year renovation of the Kennedy Center that was scheduled to begin in July 2026 [2, 3, 4].
In court, Cooper demanded clarity on "the purpose for and status of the tarp and scaffolding that defendants have erected on the front portico of the centre," citing concerns over ongoing concealment at the site [1, 2]. Trump has responded he would relinquish control over the institution following the removal order [3, 4].
Elsewhere in Washington, other sites have added Trump's name or imagery, including the dissolved American Peace Institute and banners at the Departments of Justice and Agriculture, reflecting broader attempts to embed his legacy [3, 4]. The Trump administration is also pushing to feature his portrait on a new $250 bill commemorating America's 250th anniversary [3, 4].
The Kennedy Center must submit its explanation to Judge Cooper by the end of July. The court injunction also halts the original July start date for the center's two-year planned renovation [1, 2, 3, 4].
