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WASHINGTON — Construction workers in the U.S. capital carried out a predawn operation on Saturday, June 13, 2026, to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, following a protracted legal battle. The work began at about 1:20 a.m. Eastern Time, shortly after the federal government missed a court-ordered deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 12, to take down the signage. Crews had erected scaffolding outside the performing arts venue on Friday afternoon, but severe thunderstorms, including lightning and heavy rain across the Washington, D.C., area, forced them to halt operations temporarily for safety reasons. WASHINGTON — In response to the weather delay, the Department of Justice filed a late-night court document seeking a 12-hour extension of the deadline, citing concerns about worker safety during the storm. Crews resumed work in the early hours of Saturday, and by about 3:00 a.m., they were prying off the 18 individual letters spelling out “The Donald J. Trump and” from the front portico of the building. Once the removal is complete, the facade will again read “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” Trump’s name had appeared on the exterior for 176 days, a controversial change to the 55-year-old national memorial to President John F. Kennedy that was ultimately reversed by a federal court order.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.