The Kennedy Center remained largely covered by striped tarps on Sunday even after crews removed President Trump’s name from its facade following a federal judge’s ruling. Visitors and local residents expressed confusion and frustration at being unable to see the site directly. The removal came after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled the name addition unlawful, capping weeks of controversy that began when a Trump-appointed board installed the letters in December and prompted artist withdrawals and legal challenges.
Kennedy Center Still Shrouded in Tarps After Judges Order Removal of Trump’s Name
The wall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is covered in tarp after President Donald Trump's name was removed, in Washington, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) - Rahmat Gul/AP
Large striped tarps continued to cover much of the Kennedy Center’s exterior on Sunday, even after crews removed President Donald Trump’s name from the building on Saturday in response to a federal judge’s order. The coverings left visitors puzzled and frustrated, as many could not see whether any traces of the installation remained.
Stephen Caken, a New York intern visiting Washington, D.C., told CNN he was surprised the tarps remained in place after the letters were taken down. "It seems like they’re trying to just kind of take away attention from this whole charade," he said.
By Sunday afternoon, a large portion of the facade where metal letters bearing Trump’s name had been installed in December remained obscured. John Mathew Smith, who traveled from Maryland, said the move to place the name felt like an attack on national symbols.
"To me, he’s trying to deface America’s symbols before he starts finishing defacing the country itself," Smith said.
Tim Terpstra, a nearby resident who returned for a second visit over the weekend, said he had hoped the tarps would be removed so the public could confirm that the name was gone. CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center for an explanation of why the coverings remained.
Court Order and Ongoing Appeal
The letters were removed after an appeals court declined to pause a ruling from U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who found the center acted unlawfully when it affixed the president’s name to the building, which is named for the late President John F. Kennedy. The change, first installed in December by a board selected by Mr. Trump, prompted a wave of artists to withdraw from scheduled performances and sparked immediate legal challenges.
On Friday, crowds gathered as crews erected scaffolding on the facade; some protesters chanted "Take it down" and at times hailed the workers as "heroes." Video shot through a small opening in the scaffolding showed workers removing letters a little after 3 a.m. on Saturday. The center’s appeal is expected to play out in the coming weeks.
Broader Context
Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and an ex-officio trustee of the Kennedy Center’s board, filed a lawsuit challenging the name change. On Saturday she posted a celebratory social media video in which she danced to "YMCA" by The Village People following the court action.
During Mr. Trump’s second term the Kennedy Center has hosted several events tied to the administration’s cultural priorities, including the Kennedy Center Honors in December and the premiere of a documentary featuring the first lady. Last week the venue also staged the final round of the president’s national civics contest for high school students.
Beyond the Kennedy Center, the administration has pursued a number of high-profile changes across Washington, D.C., and undertaken reviews of cultural institutions — actions that have fueled debate about stewardship of national symbols and public spaces.
CNN reporters Devan Cole, Betsy Klein and Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report.
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