'A Literal Coverup': What Is the Kennedy Center Hiding Behind Those Tarps?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

‘A Literal Coverup’: What Is the Kennedy Center Hiding Behind Those Tarps?

The arts center says it pulled President Trump’s name from the building front. But the result remains hidden by tarps, prompting questions and speculation.


Massive tarps hanging over the front of the Kennedy Center on Thursday. Alex Kent/The New York Times

By Elizabeth Williamson
Elizabeth Williamson reported from the Kennedy Center during the battle over removing President Trump’s name from the building last week.
June 19, 2026

In the early hours of June 13, in an action that turned out to be news around the world, workers hung massive tarps from scaffolding across the front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and under court order removed President Trump’s name from the marble facade. ... Or did they?

True, the center’s operations chief, Matt Floca, filed a sworn declaration with a federal court later that day saying that Mr. Trump’s name had been removed. And true, a New York Times photographer captured evidence through an opening in the tarp that the letter “A” came off. Another photographer recorded evidence of the demise of a “D.”

But in a downer denouement for Mr. Trump’s critics, a week later the tarps are still there, prompting some to wonder whether at least some of the letters are, too. As of Friday evening, there was no visual evidence that the letters splashed across the building had been restored to “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

Peering behind the tarps is impossible because they now lie tight against the building’s front. ... “I don’t know if they took down the sign, because I can’t see it,” said Luna Woo, a violinist visiting from Portland, Ore., as part of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute. She and other young musicians in the program have been trying to see behind the tarps from a practice room overlooking them. No luck.

So when will the tarps come down? ... A Kennedy Center spokeswoman, Roma Daravi, emailed a terse response: ... “The scaffolding and tarp will remain up as crews address maintenance needs of the marble and soffit panels. Best, Public Relations.”

{snip}

Julia Jacobs contributed reporting from New York.

Elizabeth Williamson is a feature writer for The Times, based in Washington. She has been a journalist for three decades, on three continents.

[Aussie105]

1. "maintenance needs of the marble and soffit panels."

Translation:
The holes left in the marble by removal of the offensive name look real ugly, and we are working out how to fix them.

Exposed as is, it would be a metaphor for what a VOP (very offensive person) has done to the whole of America.

[Lonestarblue]

6. That was my first thought, too.

I think those are Carrera marble tiles, and they will now have huge holes in them that may be impossible to patch without looking crappy. Trying to find a color match now for these tiles may be impossible. Just one more of many blights Trump is leaving on this country. I can never forgive Trump and the people who put him back in the WH for his destruction of the East Wing.

[madamesilverspurs]

2. Likely covering up

significant damage to the very expensive marble. It's going to require a specialist to fill those holes, not an easy task. If the damage is too extensive, the marble may have to be replaced. But never worry, Biden will be blamed.


.

[Aussie105]

3. Begs the question:

How do you fill holes in marble so that they still look virginal?

A bit of filler and paint like a drywall repair at home wouldn't do.

[Blumancru]

5. Mixture of algae, ivermectin, and marble dust should do the trick.

[vanlassie]

8. Oh I'm sure he knows a guy.

[SergeStorms]

9. A very expensive guy....

Who's done dozens of these for The Donald himself. He's an impeccable craftsman, the very best, and of course Agent Orange will get his usual kickback from this impeccable craftsman. All on the taxpayers' dime.

[Blumancru]

4. He probably added Mailorderia's name to it.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. Shame.

He is hiding his shame at not getting his way.

[Danascot]

12. trump's fig leaf

nt

[Botany]

10. Just like that beautiful piece of marble around the fireplace in the Oval Office Trump has fucked up the

marble on the Kennedy Center, the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, the White House, and his
war with Iran. He is a baby with a chain saw.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oval_Office#/media/File resident_Donald_Trump_speaks_with_members_of_the_media_alongside_NATO_Secretary_General_Mark_Rutte,_Secretary_of_State_Marco_Rubio,_and_Secretary_of_War_Pete_Hegseth_in_the_Oval_Office_(54877213179).jpg

[MoseShrute]

11. Super glue

Twice impeached donald john trump super glued much of his gawdy decorations to the walls of the Oval Office. Wait until those repairs take place.