The niece of President John F. Kennedy has issued a dramatic pledge to personally remove Donald Trump's name from the front of the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, vowing to act the moment he leaves the White House.
A Controversial Renaming Sparks Outrage
On Friday, workmen on scissor lifts affixed metal lettering to the facade of the famous performing arts venue, officially rebranding it as 'The Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center For the Performing Arts.' This followed a vote by the centre's board, which Trump had personally purged earlier, to add the sitting president's name despite significant legal questions and widespread criticism.
Kerry Kennedy, President Kennedy's niece and sister to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., took to social media to declare her intentions. 'Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder,' she wrote. She added, 'Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!'
Legal Challenges and Political Backlash
The move has been condemned by many Democrats and members of the arts community, who argue that Trump circumvented the law, as the naming of the federal building is controlled by Congress. The action is unprecedented in US history, as national institutions like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial were all named posthumously.
Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a non-voting ex-officio member of the board, posted a video stating her opposition was silenced. 'For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move,' Beatty wrote, calling the process 'censorship.'
Despite the backlash, the centre's newly rebranded X account announced: 'Today, we proudly unveil the updated exterior designation -- honoring the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the enduring legacy of John F. Kennedy.'
Trump's Surprise and Justification
Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, the 79-year-old Republican president claimed he was 'surprised' and 'honored' by the board's decision. 'The board is most distinguished people in the country. We saved the building,' Trump added.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell defended the move, telling the Daily Mail that Trump's real estate expertise saved the 54-year-old landmark from proposed demolition. After a tour revealed a collapsing sewer system, Trump reportedly told Grenell, 'I can save it,' and secured $250 million in Congress for renovations.
This is not the first institution to receive Trump's name during his second term, following a pattern that includes a peace institute and special trust funds. The controversy over the Trump-Kennedy Center renaming looks set to continue, symbolising the deep political and cultural divisions in the American capital.
