Kennedy Center Board Votes to Add ‘Trump’ to Its Name, Launching Legal and Political Debate
The Washington arts institution’s trustees, under President Trump’s leadership, have voted to rename the center after Trump even as questions persist over legal authority and congressional approval
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Thursday to adopt a new name reflecting President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, announcing the institution will now be known as the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The White House said the decision recognized Trump’s role in stabilizing and renovating the venerable Washington cultural venue, which serves as a national stage for theatre, music and dance and is legally designated as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the board’s vote as unanimous and lauded Trump’s contributions to the center’s restoration and financial oversight since he returned to the presidency in January 2025. Trump, who installed himself as chair of the board earlier this year after a sweeping reconstitution of its membership, said he was “surprised and honored” by the decision, framing it as a celebration of both his own and President Kennedy’s legacies.
The move immediately sparked contention.
Critics, including U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member, disputed that the vote was unanimous and said she was muted during the virtual meeting and denied a chance to voice opposition.
Members of the Kennedy family and other opponents have insisted that, under federal law, only Congress can formally rename the Kennedy Center, which was established by statute as a memorial to John F. Kennedy.
Joe Kennedy III, the grandnephew of Robert F. Kennedy, echoed those legal points, stating that the center’s name cannot be altered “no matter what anyone says.”
The board has already updated the centre’s branding, and the White House highlighted the name change on official platforms, while Trump’s supporters see the redesignation as fitting recognition of his efforts to secure funding and drive renovations.
However, legal experts and lawmakers from across the political spectrum stress that statutory protections for the Kennedy Center’s name may require legislative action by Congress to take effect.
The clash underscores broader debates about presidential influence over national institutions, the role of federal law in preserving historical memorials, and the evolving identity of one of the United States’ foremost cultural landmarks.
The White House said the decision recognized Trump’s role in stabilizing and renovating the venerable Washington cultural venue, which serves as a national stage for theatre, music and dance and is legally designated as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the board’s vote as unanimous and lauded Trump’s contributions to the center’s restoration and financial oversight since he returned to the presidency in January 2025. Trump, who installed himself as chair of the board earlier this year after a sweeping reconstitution of its membership, said he was “surprised and honored” by the decision, framing it as a celebration of both his own and President Kennedy’s legacies.
The move immediately sparked contention.
Critics, including U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member, disputed that the vote was unanimous and said she was muted during the virtual meeting and denied a chance to voice opposition.
Members of the Kennedy family and other opponents have insisted that, under federal law, only Congress can formally rename the Kennedy Center, which was established by statute as a memorial to John F. Kennedy.
Joe Kennedy III, the grandnephew of Robert F. Kennedy, echoed those legal points, stating that the center’s name cannot be altered “no matter what anyone says.”
The board has already updated the centre’s branding, and the White House highlighted the name change on official platforms, while Trump’s supporters see the redesignation as fitting recognition of his efforts to secure funding and drive renovations.
However, legal experts and lawmakers from across the political spectrum stress that statutory protections for the Kennedy Center’s name may require legislative action by Congress to take effect.
The clash underscores broader debates about presidential influence over national institutions, the role of federal law in preserving historical memorials, and the evolving identity of one of the United States’ foremost cultural landmarks.
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