The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has unanimously voted to rename the iconic Washington institution the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” citing President Donald Trump’s role in revitalizing the venue.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the decision Thursday on X, highlighting Trump’s efforts in preserving the center financially and structurally while enhancing its national reputation.
She described the move as honoring a “truly great team long into the future,” linking Trump’s contributions with President Kennedy’s legacy.
This marks the first name change in the center’s history since 1964, when it was renamed to honor the late president following a fundraising campaign led by Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.
Earlier this year, Trump was appointed chairman, a position that included replacing several existing board members, a move praised by supporters and criticized by some observers.
Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, told the Washington Examiner that the vote reflects bipartisan recognition of Trump’s leadership.
“The unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction,” she said.
The decision comes amid reports of declining ticket sales and staffing challenges.
The New York Times reported that October attendance was roughly half that of the previous year, while the Washington Post noted a drop in ticket sales across the center’s three largest performance spaces.
Trump has maintained an active presence at the Kennedy Center throughout his second presidential term.
He attended a March board meeting, describing the building as in “tremendous disrepair,” and appeared with First Lady Melania Trump at the opening night of Les Miserables.
He also hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing performers such as Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait and members of Kiss, and attended the FIFA World Cup drawing at the venue, where he received the organization’s newly created “peace prize.”
Legal challenges remain, according to CNBC. Federal law prohibits the installation of new memorials or plaques in public areas without congressional approval and House Republicans have introduced legislation to formalize the renaming.
Observers warn the plan could face significant legal hurdles, noting that any permanent changes to a federally designated memorial traditionally require detailed review and congressional consent.
The decision has prompted criticism from public figures and Kennedy family members.
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) called the proposal illegitimate, according to Newsweek.
“It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says,” he said.
Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen described it as a “sacrilege.”
Trump expressed surprise at the board’s vote but praised it as acknowledgment of his leadership. In a statement Thursday, he said he was “honored” and reiterated that the building had been “saved” under his guidance.
Founded in 1958 under President Dwight Eisenhower, the Kennedy Center has long stood as a symbol of America’s cultural heritage, showcasing the nation’s arts, theater and music.
Renaming the venue to include Trump, intended to recognize his role in its preservation, has sparked debate over whether a sitting president should be permanently associated with a memorial originally dedicated to a fallen president.
