In a significant move reshaping Washington DC's cultural landscape, the board of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts has voted to rename the flagship institution. The world-renowned arts centre will now be known as the Trump-Kennedy Centre.
White House Announces 'Unanimous' Board Decision
The announcement was made by the White House on Thursday. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in a post on X that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Centre had voted unanimously for the change. She attributed the decision to "the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building."
Leavitt's statement elaborated, claiming Trump's contributions were not only related to the building's reconstruction but also its financial standing and reputation. "Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!" she wrote, predicting the institution would attain "new levels of success and grandeur."
A Culmination of Efforts to Reshape Cultural Institutions
This name change represents the peak of a concerted effort by the Trump administration to remake the US capital's major arts and culture bodies. Earlier this year, House Republicans proposed renaming the centre's Opera House the "First Lady Melania Trump Opera House."
The administration has also ordered a review of the Smithsonian Institution and oversaw the demolition of the White House East Wing over the summer to make way for a new, large ballroom.
Critics have been quick to point to a potential legal conflict. A federal statute governing the Kennedy Centre states that after December 2, 1983, "no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas" of the centre.
Controversial Takeover and New Direction
The path to renaming began in February, when Donald Trump installed himself as chair of the Kennedy Centre's board of trustees, describing it as a "take-over" after purging the previous board. At the time, he criticised the centre's past programming, stating, "Just last year, the Kennedy Centre featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP."
He promised the centre would "reflect the brightest STARS on its stage" and declared, "the best is yet to come." This new direction was showcased earlier this month when the centre honoured a list of contributors hand-selected by Trump, who served as the evening's compere. The honourees included country singer George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, and disco icon Gloria Gaynor.
However, claims of a unanimous board vote have been disputed. US Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who serves as an ex-officio member of the centre, posted on X that the decision was not unanimous. "I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move," she stated, calling the renaming "just another attempt to evade the law and not have the people have a say."
The move comes amid reports that Kennedy Centre ticket sales have fallen to their lowest in years following Trump's takeover, signalling a period of profound transition and controversy for one of America's most iconic cultural institutions.
