The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has found itself at the epicenter of an unexpected political firestorm after its board voted to rename the institution the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” The decision has raised legal questions and reignited debate about how politics intersects with national cultural sites.
“The unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction,” Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, said in a statement. “The new Trump Kennedy Center reflects the unequivocal bipartisan support for America’s cultural center for generations to come.”
The news sparked immediate discontent from some members of the Kennedy family, including those who argued that the change might be illegal.
The Kennedy family’s reaction underscored the sensitivity of the issue. Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, publicly criticized the move, calling it politically motivated and inconsistent with the center’s original purpose. Kerry Kennedy, the late president’s niece and sister of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also condemned the decision, adding to the opposition from those who see the renaming as a departure from the memorial’s purpose.
The vote came on December 18, 2025, following recent changes to the board of directors that included people who support President Donald Trump. Supporters of the decision say it reflects Trump’s role in helping the center recover from financial stress and years of delayed maintenance.
The White House described the renaming as a symbolic recognition of the two presidents’ terms, and press secretary Caroline Leavitt praised the move as a tribute to history and a focus on the institution’s future. Speaking to reporters later that day, Trump said he was “surprised” and “honored” by the board’s actions.
The celebratory framing was quickly challenged. A member of the House of Representatives from Ohio, a Democrat Joyce Beatty, disputed claims that the vote was unanimous. In a post titled “X,” she said she was silenced during the meeting and was unable to voice her dissent, raising concerns about how the decision was made and whether all board members were given a chance to speak.
Beatty is among a group of non-voting Democratic lawmakers serving on the board who said the vote was illegal.
During his first term as president, Trump showed little interest in the Kennedy Center, but since returning to office in January, he has replaced the board members appointed by Democratic presidents with some of his most ardent supporters, who later elected him chairman of the board.
He has criticized the center’s previous program as too liberal and its modern physical appearance, and has promised to overhaul both.
Trump has secured more than $250 million from the Republican-controlled Congress to renovate the building, including a promise of new paint, new theater seats, and other upgrades.
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