In the early hours of June 13, workers installed large tarps on scaffolding covering the front facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., while removing President Donald Trump’s name under a federal court order. The action marked a significant moment in an ongoing dispute over the center’s recent rebranding and leadership changes.

Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s operations chief, filed a sworn declaration that day confirming the removal of Mr. Trump’s name. Photographs taken through small gaps in the tarps showed individual letters being taken down, offering initial evidence that the name had indeed been removed. However, the tarps remain tightly affixed to the building’s front, preventing a full view of the signage. As of late Friday evening, observers were unable to confirm whether all letters had been restored to the original “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” display.

The center has not announced when the tarps will be taken down. A spokeswoman, Roma Daravi, responded via email that the scaffolding and tarp would remain while maintenance work on the marble and soffit panels continues, without providing a specific timeline.

The presence of the tarps has sparked differing reactions among observers and stakeholders. Supporters of Mr. Trump dismissed the situation as overblown, while critics viewed it as emblematic of the former president’s sensitivity following the court order. Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and an ex officio Kennedy Center board member, described it as an attempt to obscure the court-mandated removal. Ms. Beatty, who had sued to prevent Mr. Trump’s takeover and the center’s renaming, requested a court order for a public declaration detailing the tarps’ purpose and removal schedule.

Other Democratic representatives echoed concerns about the visual blockage. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland called it “a literal coverup,” while Representative Mike Levin of California termed the name’s removal “a huge win” and criticized the ongoing tarp coverage as petty.

The tarps also affect center operations. Actor Tommy Gedrich, appearing in the production of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” noted that the covers block two backstage entrances, requiring performers to navigate a longer route to the stage. He expressed skepticism about the necessity of extended marble preservation, noting past repairs at the facility had not involved similar coverings.

The controversy stems from Mr. Trump’s assumption of control over the Kennedy Center’s board in February 2025, which led to the board renaming the venue in his honor by December. This decision triggered boycotts from performers, donors, and audiences, resulting in sharply reduced attendance. In response, the center announced a planned two-year closure starting in early July to undertake renovations.

Ms. Beatty objected to the closure in court, and in late May, U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered the removal of Mr. Trump’s name and directed a review of the closure plans. Judge Cooper’s ruling was met with public attention, including a crowd gathering outside the center as the June 12 deadline approached.

Mr. Trump responded to the court order with a social media post criticizing Democrats and indicated he would cease involvement with the center, though his allies unsuccessfully tried to block the removal just before the deadline.

The tarping process began around 2 a.m. on June 13 amid protests from onlookers. Since then, spectators and musicians inside the center have speculated about the status of the signage behind the tarps, but the center maintains no public timeline for their removal, leaving the final resolution pending as the legal battle continues.