Work has officially commenced to add former President Donald Trump's name to the exterior of Washington's prestigious Kennedy Center, a move that has ignited immediate controversy and legal questions.
Scaffolding and Tarps Signal Start of Renovation
The physical alterations began on Friday 19 December 2025. To shield the work from public view, several large blue tarps were hung across the front of the building early that morning. Before the final coverings were installed, observers could see a large letter 'D' being positioned on the exterior, with workers active on scaffolding around the structure.
The centre, originally named for Democratic President John F. Kennedy, is undergoing this change just one day after its board, chaired by Trump himself, voted in favour of the modification.
A New Name and Mounting Criticism
The board's decision formally changes the institution's title from The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts to The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. This vote has not been without significant opposition.
Critics, including Democratic members of Congress who serve as ex-officio board members, alongside several historians, argue that the board overstepped its authority. They insist that only an act of Congress can legally change the name of the centre, setting the stage for a potential political and legal confrontation.
Part of a Broader Pattern in the Capital
This is not the first federal building in Washington to receive Trump's name in recent times. The move follows the recent addition of his name to the headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace, indicating a pattern of branding federal properties associated with the former Republican president.
The Kennedy Center has not provided any public comment on the controversy, having not responded to a request for comment sent by email on Friday. The ongoing work solidifies a highly partisan alteration to one of the nation's most iconic cultural landmarks, ensuring debate will continue long after the new lettering is secured.
