President Donald Trump has successfully renamed one of Washington D.C.’s most iconic cultural landmarks, adding his name alongside that of President John F. Kennedy.
The facility will now be known as “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the controversial decision Thursday on X, praising Trump’s role in “saving the building” both financially and reputationally.
But legal experts and Kennedy family members are pushing back hard, questioning whether Trump has the authority to rename a federally designated memorial.
Board Votes Unanimously After Trump Takeover
Trump’s hand-picked board members voted unanimously to approve the name change, according to Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations.
This vote came after Trump announced in February that he had been “unanimously” elected as board chairman, following his removal of previous Democratic board members and management.
I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building.
Leavitt emphasized Trump’s contributions went beyond physical reconstruction, extending to financial stability and reputation management.
Kennedy Family Raises Legal Questions
Joe Kennedy III, former U.S. representative from Massachusetts and JFK’s grandnephew, immediately challenged the legality of renaming a federally designated memorial.
The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.
His argument hinges on federal law protections that established the center as an official presidential memorial.
Maria Shriver, journalist and niece of JFK, expressed even stronger objections to placing Trump’s name ahead of Kennedy’s on the memorial.
It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.
Shriver warned Americans to recognize what she characterized as undignified behavior beneath the stature of the presidency.
Sweeping Changes After Trump’s Second Term
Trump’s takeover of Kennedy Center operations began shortly after he took office for his second term in February.
President Deborah Rutter was fired and replaced with Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first administration and most recently as envoy for special missions.
Trump had publicly criticized what he called “woke” programming at the venue, making his intentions clear on Truth Social.
NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST.
Major Resignations Follow
Several high-profile figures immediately distanced themselves from the institution following Trump’s actions.
- Shonda Rhimes resigned as treasurer, a position she held since her appointment by President Barack Obama
- Renée Fleming stepped down as artistic adviser to the center
- Ben Folds exited his role as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra
These departures signal deep divisions within arts communities about Trump’s leadership direction.
Trump Foreshadowed Name Change at December Ceremony
Trump broke decades of tradition December 7 by hosting the 48th Kennedy Center Honors ceremony himself.
Speaking from behind a podium bearing the Presidential seal—another unprecedented move for this ceremony—Trump jokingly referred to the venue as “the Trump-Kennedy Center” before correcting himself.
I’m acting like Johnny Carson. I mean, the ‘Kennedy Center.’ I’m sorry. This is terribly embarrassing.
This year’s honorees included Sylvester Stallone, KISS members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss, singer-actor Michael Crawford, country star George Strait, and disco icon Gloria Gaynor.
Highlights from the ceremony will air as a primetime special on CBS December 23.
Historical Significance of Original Name
John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts opened September 8, 1971, with a gala featuring a world premiere Requiem mass honoring President Kennedy.
Legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein created this commissioned work specifically for the occasion.
President Kennedy himself had championed fundraising efforts for what was originally called the National Cultural Center before his 1963 assassination led Congress to rename it in his memory.
Whether Trump’s renaming withstands legal challenges remains uncertain, as questions mount about presidential authority over federally designated memorials.