Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center — but it could go back up

Donald Trump's name has been taken down from the Kennedy Center, Washington's celebrated performing arts venue, but the conflict surrounding the institution is expected to continue.

The New York Times reported Saturday that while a federal district court in Washington blocked the Kennedy Center board's move to add Trump's name before that of former President John F. Kennedy, a higher court could still reverse that ruling, potentially allowing the name to be reinstalled. With the legal battle ongoing, analysts say the controversy is far from settled.

The Kennedy Center has signaled that Trump's name could return to its facade if it prevails on appeal. In its appeal filing, the center argued that "removing the signage now, only to reinstall it after a successful appeal, would waste unnecessary time and money."

The Kennedy Center removed Trump's name from its exterior and its website on Saturday. Workers hired by the center took down the letters overnight, and the process was streamed live online.

Despite the late hour, roughly 150 people gathered to watch the removal. One attendee held a sign reading "You are not JFK."

However, the section of the exterior wall where Trump's name had been displayed remains covered by a barrier, and it has not been announced when that barrier will come down, The New York Times said.

The Washington Post described the episode as more than just the removal of a name, calling it "a symbolic clash over the identity of American cultural institutions and the reach of political power." Legal and political disputes over the Kennedy Center's future are expected to persist for now.

Beyond the naming dispute, a separate lawsuit is pending before the federal district court in Washington over Trump's plan to close the Kennedy Center for two years for a major renovation. The court has put that plan on hold, saying it was pursued without adequate review, though it stopped short of barring the renovation outright.

Even if the Kennedy Center avoids an immediate closure, a return to normal operations will not be easy.

The center currently plans to proceed as scheduled with the musical "Moulin Rouge!," the children's show "Bluey's Big Play," and a Mark Twain Prize ceremony for comedian Bill Maher on June 28. Beyond that, much of the calendar remains empty. After a recent round of significant staff cuts, it is unclear how long it will take to restore the center's programming to full capacity.

The New York Times reported that "a substantial number of staff have already left through firings, restructuring and voluntary departures, and the performance schedule has been sharply reduced," adding that "boycotts by artists and audiences opposed to the Trump administration are compounding the financial strain."