Kennedy Center facade without Trump’s name revealed in new photos

New photographs have provided the first public view of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since President Donald Trump’s name was removed from the building’s facade under a court order. The images, taken from inside tarp-covered scaffolding that has obscured the exterior for more than a week, appear to confirm that the letters bearing Trump’s name have been completely taken down, according to The Washington Post.

According to The Washington Post, the photographs were initially provided by the activist group Hands Off the Arts and later independently verified by the newspaper. The images show two rows of blank square panels where Trump’s name had previously appeared on the Kennedy Center facade.



The controversy dates back to late 2025, when the Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted to rename the institution "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," commonly referred to as the "Trump-Kennedy Center." The move followed Trump's takeover of the institution's leadership after returning to office and installing a new board that subsequently elected him chairman.

The decision immediately triggered opposition from lawmakers, arts leaders and members of the Kennedy family. Critics argued that federal law establishes the institution's official name and that only Congress has the authority to change it.

Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, an ex officio trustee of the center, filed a lawsuit challenging the renaming. The case, known as Beatty v. Trump ultimately resulted in a federal court ruling that the board lacked authority to rename the institution.

Construction crews erected scaffolding around the facade on June 12 to begin the work. Although workers reportedly missed the initial deadline, the letters were ultimately removed in the early hours of Saturday morning. Lawyers representing the Kennedy Center later confirmed in a court filing that the removal had been completed.

While Kennedy Center officials confirmed that the signage removal had been completed, the scaffolding and tarps remained in place long afterward, fueling speculation and criticism.

Kennedy Center spokeswoman Roma Daravi said the coverings were necessary because crews were conducting maintenance work on the building's marble and soffit panels.

Mallory Miller, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, told The Washington Post that the images were important because they documented what she described as a victory for those who challenged the naming decision.

“This is the picture the Trump administration does not want anyone to see,” Miller said, arguing that the public should be able to witness the outcome of the legal battle.