Significant striped tarps remained on the Kennedy Center ’ s exterior Sunday, prompting confusion and frustration from some visitors who arrived to the renowned arts venue to see President Donald Trump ’ s name removed. Stephen Caken, a New York resident visiting Washington, DC for an internship, notified CNN he was puzzled why the tarp was still up after the president ’ s name had been removed on Saturday in compliance with a federal judge ’ s order. The matter has quickly moved to the forefront of national discussion.

Background

Several key factors have contributed to the current state of affairs.

Much of the exterior portion of the building where the metal letters marking Trump ’ s name were installed in December was covered Sunday afternoon, preventing multiple from viewing what remains.

John Mathew Smith, a Maryland resident who developed the trip to the Kennedy Center, argued that Trump was “ trying to weaken America ’ s symbols. ” “ To me, he ’ s trying to deface America ’ s symbols before he starts finishing defacing the country itself, ” Smith said.

At the same time, tim Terpstra, a Washington resident who lives nearby, arrived at the center for the second time this weekend, hoping that the tarps had been removed.

Analysis

Those following the situation closely say this marks a meaningful shift.

The removal occurred following an appeals court declined to pause a ruling from US District Judge Christopher Cooper that established the venue acted unlawfully when it added Trump ’ s name to the building, part of the president ’ s initiative to remake the nation ’ s capital.

Of particular significance is the fact that the installation of Trump ’ s name to the building, which was named for assassinated President John F. Kennedy, struck a deep symbolic chord among residents who ’ ve cherished the center, which has long served as a cultural hub in the deep-blue city.

In a detail that has not gone unnoticed, the center took steps last week to reverse the change in some places but kept the president ’ s name on the building as it sought to stave off compliance with Cooper ’ s ruling.

National Impact

The ripple effects of what has occurred are expected to reach well beyond the initial story.

While the Kennedy Center ’ s appeal is expected to play out in coming weeks, the legal fight dates back to December, when Trump ’ s handpicked board of trustees added his name, leading to a wave of artists pulling out of performances.

Compounding the significance of these events, in Trump ’ s second term, the venue has continue to served as a vehicle for him to elevate work that aligns with his cultural preferences.

What has become increasingly clear is that he hosted the Kennedy Center Honors in December and the center hosted the premiere of first lady Melania Trump ’ s documentary.

What has become increasingly clear is that in his attempt to reshape Washington, DC, Trump has also paved over the White House Rose Garden to create a Mar-a-Lago-esque patio, demolished the East Wing to make room for a massive ballroom, and changed the color of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

What has become increasingly clear is that in Washington, his administration has also reinstalled a controversial Confederate monument and at the memorial of George Mason, a founding father, the administration has removed references to the fact that he “ paradoxically ” owned slaves in spite of being a champion of “ individual rights. ” CNN ’ s Devan Cole, Betsy Klein and Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report.

What Happens Next

The events outlined in this report highlight the complexity and significance of the broader issue at hand. Stakeholders, policymakers, and the public are expected to closely monitor what comes next.