A federal court in Washington, D.C. has ordered the removal of Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling that the former president’s branding on the national cultural landmark violated federal law. The decision, handed down late Tuesday, invalidates a 2020 resolution by the Trump-appointed board of trustees to rename the building’s grand foyer after the 45th president.
Judge Amina Carter of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that the renaming contravened the Kennedy Center Act of 1958, which explicitly designated the complex as a “living memorial” to President John F. Kennedy. The act, she wrote, precludes any subsequent naming after living individuals, particularly those without a direct connection to the arts. “The statute’s plain text and legislative history make clear that the center is to remain a nonpartisan tribute to JFK’s cultural legacy, not a vehicle for political advertisement,” Carter stated in her 34-page opinion.
The case was brought by the advocacy group Protect Democracy, which argued that the renaming was a misuse of public funds and an affront to the center’s founding mission. The group’s legal director, Sarah Li, said the ruling “restores integrity to an institution that should transcend partisan politics.” The Trump legal team has indicated it will appeal, with spokesperson Jason Miller calling the decision “a politically motivated attack by a biased judiciary.”
Across the Atlantic, British cultural institutions have taken note. The Royal Opera House, the National Theatre, and the British Museum issued a joint statement reaffirming their independence from political interference. “The Kennedy Center ruling underscores a principle we hold dear: that cultural institutions must remain free from the influence of transient political figures,” the statement read. “We stand with our American counterparts and reaffirm our commitment to a depoliticised arts sector.”
The controversy has reignited debate about the politicisation of cultural spaces. In recent years, U.S. museums and performance venues have faced pressure from both parties to honour or remove names associated with controversial leaders. The Kennedy Center, which hosts over 2,000 performances annually, had become a flashpoint for this tension since Trump’s name was added in November 2020, just weeks after his electoral defeat.
Legal experts say the ruling could set a precedent for other institutions grappling with naming disputes. “If a court can overturn a renaming based on legislative intent, that’s a powerful tool for preserving historical accuracy,” said Professor Henry Blake of Georgetown University Law Center. “But it also raises questions about who decides which figures are worthy of commemoration.”
The White House declined to comment, but a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said President Biden “welcomes the court’s decision to uphold the law.” The Kennedy Center’s current board, now controlled by Biden appointees, is expected to announce plans for a new permanent installation in the foyer, likely honouring multiple contributors to the arts rather than a single political figure.
For now, construction crews began removing the brass lettering spelling out “Donald J. Trump Foyer” early Wednesday morning. By noon, the space was empty, save for the original Kennedy quotation carved into the marble: “Art is the great unifier.”
