The Kennedy Center in Washington ordered staff on Thursday to remove President Donald Trump's name from the institution to comply with a federal court ruling, according to two people familiar with the directive. The move unwinds one of Trump's most visible efforts to put his imprint on the capital's cultural landmarks.
The memo from the Kennedy Center's general counsel is the first sign the institution is reversing the name change Trump made last year. Trump said last week he was directing his administration to conduct a "complete transfer" of the center's operations to Congress after the ruling.
"You must immediately change email signatures, letterhead, and other documents to reflect the name as 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,' or 'Kennedy Center,'" the memo, seen by Reuters, said. It said signage, brochures and websites "must be completed" by June 12.
Judge Says Congress Must Approve Renaming
In December, Trump added his name before Kennedy's on the facade of the white marble building. The move prompted a lawsuit from Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), a Kennedy Center board member.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that the center cannot be renamed without an act of Congress. Cooper directed the administration to remove signage bearing Trump's name and eliminate references to a "Trump Kennedy Center" from official materials within 14 days. It remains unclear when Trump's name will be physically removed from the building.
Trump Pushes Broader Washington Makeover
The Kennedy Center opened in 1971 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. Its board voted in December to alter the name after Trump replaced several board members and appointed himself a trustee.
Trump's Kennedy Center dispute is part of a broader push to reshape Washington's monumental core. On Thursday, he announced plans to build a promenade to the Lincoln Memorial. He also intends to erect a 250-foot arch and build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the demolished East Wing site.
