The physical erasure of the name came after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a final appeal from the center’s board to delay the process. In his May 29 ruling, Cooper stated that the administration lacked the legal standing to rename the iconic institution, noting that only Congress holds the authority to alter its title. The judge emphasized that the public interest is not served by allowing unlawful government actions to persist.
Scaffolding appeared on the building’s exterior Friday night, drawing a crowd of onlookers who watched as workers began the task of removing the large, capitalized lettering. While thunderstorms initially stalled the progress, Executive Director Matt Floca confirmed that all signage from the grounds and building has since been removed. This development halts a broader push by the administration to imprint the president's name and image on federal landmarks, a practice that has included renaming the U.S. Institute of Peace and displaying banners at the Department of Justice.
Beyond the signage, Judge Cooper also blocked an attempt to shutter the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations. The project, which was scheduled to begin in July, was part of a mandate initiated by the board after the president appointed himself chairman and stacked the governing body with loyalists. Following the court's intervention, the president stated he is relinquishing control of the venue.
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