The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has voted to rename the iconic Washington, D.C., cultural institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The proposed full name would be the Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, a move that has immediately triggered controversy and questions about its legality.
In a post on X on Thursday, Leavitt said the board voted unanimously to approve the name change, crediting President Donald Trump for what she described as “unbelievable work” in saving and revitalizing the building over the past year. She congratulated both Trump and the late President John F. Kennedy, calling the pairing a “truly great team” that would bring new success and grandeur to the institution.
Speaking to reporters later at the White House, Trump said he was “surprised” and “honored” by the decision. He said the proposal was raised by a “very distinguished” board member and that the board ultimately voted in favor of it.
However, that account was quickly disputed. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a Democratic ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board, said the vote was not unanimous and that the issue was not listed on the agenda shared with board members ahead of the meeting. Beatty said she attempted to voice her opposition during the meeting but was muted and prevented from speaking.
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, echoed those claims, writing on X that microphones were muted and that the vote was not unanimous. Schlossberg, who is running for Congress in New York’s 12th District in 2026, suggested the move was politically motivated.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticized the decision, saying the name change would not be legal. Legal experts and lawmakers point out that the legislation establishing the Kennedy Center explicitly prohibits renaming the building. Changing its name would require an act of Congress, creating a significant legal hurdle.
The vote comes amid Trump’s broader effort to reshape the Kennedy Center during his second term. During his first presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump largely distanced himself from the institution and became the first president since the Kennedy Center Honors began in 1978 to never attend the annual gala. Since returning to office, however, he has taken a far more direct role.
In February, Trump removed several board members and appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center, declaring on Truth Social that he intended to make the institution “GREAT AGAIN.” Weeks later, the newly installed board formally elected him as chair.
Trump also played a direct role in selecting this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees—George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, KISS, Michael Crawford and Sylvester Stallone—personally announcing the list and saying he rejected many candidates for being “too woke.” He hosted the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony on Dec. 7, becoming the first U.S. president, sitting or former, to host the event.
Opposition from the Kennedy family has been strong. Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, condemned the renaming effort, accusing Trump and his administration of repressing free expression and targeting artists and journalists. She said President Kennedy stood for justice, equality and compassion, values she argued Trump does not share.
Former Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, a grandnephew of President Kennedy, also rejected the proposal, saying the Kennedy Center is a living memorial established by federal law and cannot be renamed any more than the Lincoln Memorial could be.
The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971 nearly eight years after Kennedy’s assassination, has already seen fallout from Trump’s influence. Several prominent artists, including Renée Fleming, Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds, have distanced themselves from the institution, while productions such as Hamilton and Eureka Day have canceled performances.
Whether the proposed renaming can move forward now hinges on Congress, setting the stage for a legal and political battle over the future identity of one of America’s most prominent cultural landmarks.