since federal judge ordered them to take down the name within 14 days.
On May 29, 2026 — President John F. Kennedy's birthday — U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Trump's name must be removed from the Kennedy Center. The court found that the Board of Trustees acted beyond its legal authority when it voted in December 2025 to rename the building. As the judge wrote: only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center. Congress gave it the name. Only Congress can take it back.
The Kennedy Center's own general counsel issued an internal memo directing staff to remove all references to Trump's name from signage, email signatures, marketing materials, and the website — with a deadline of June 12, 2026. Physical removal of façade signage is underway.
The administration has indicated it may appeal. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declined to commit to full compliance. The Kennedy Center is also still facing a planned closure for a two-year renovation starting July 4, 2026 — which the same judge has temporarily blocked.
This is a livestream vigil until the name comes down and stays down.
We'll keep the camera on.