U.S. President Donald Trump’s selected panel voted on Thursday to rename Washington’s primary performing arts hub as the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to the White House. This decision sparked criticism from Democrats who claimed the board had exceeded its legal mandate.
The center was originally named after President John F. Kennedy by Congress in 1964 following his tragic assassination. Donald A. Ritchie, a former Senate historian, highlighted that as Congress initially named the center, any renaming would require Congressional approval to amend the existing law.
Despite the ongoing debate, the board swiftly updated the center’s branding on its website to reflect the new name. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the necessity for legislative action, underlining that such steps would be made evident. The unanimous vote by the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees led to the establishment being renamed as the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, as confirmed by Roma Daravi, the institution’s vice president of public relations.
The decision to rename the center was based on the acknowledgment of Trump’s purported efforts in rescuing the center from financial challenges and physical deterioration, as stated by Daravi. This move aimed to showcase bipartisan support for the cultural institution’s future.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the news of the vote on social media, crediting Trump’s significant contributions to the center’s progress since his return to office earlier this year. Trump, who serves as the board’s chairman, expressed his surprise and honor at the decision during a statement at the White House.
Prior to the official renaming, Trump had already been informally referring to the center as the “Trump Kennedy Center.” This move has not been well-received by some Kennedy family members, with Maria Shriver, a niece of John F. Kennedy, expressing strong disapproval on social media.
In addition to the renaming controversy, Trump’s involvement in the center’s operations has been a subject of debate. Despite his previous lack of interest during his first term, Trump has made significant changes since his return to office, including appointing new board members and securing funding for renovations.
The center’s programming and physical appearance have also faced criticism from Trump, who has pledged to revamp both aspects. The impact of these changes has been evident in declining subscription sales and cancellations of planned productions, indicating a shift in the center’s cultural landscape under Trump’s leadership.