Kennedy Center Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote That Muted Opposition
The Kennedy Center has a new name. As of Thursday it’s officially the “Trump-Kennedy Center” and they already put up the new signage on Friday.
The board vote was called “unanimous.” Except one member says she was literally muted when trying to object.
How This Went Down
Trump’s hand-picked board of trustees voted Thursday to rename the storied arts institution after the sitting president. NBC News reports the official name is now “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced it on X calling it “unanimous” because of “the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building.”
Trump said he was “surprised” and “honored” by the vote. Which is interesting since he’s literally the board chairman and has been joking about adding his name for months.
The “Unanimous” Problem
Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat on the board, disputes the unanimous claim. In a video posted to X she said the name change “was not on the agenda” and when she tried to speak up:
“I said, ‘I have something to say,’ and I was muted, and as I continued to try to unmute to ask questions and voice my opposition to this, I received a note saying that I would not be unmuted.”
CNN reports the center’s spokesperson pushed back saying Beatty was “granted the privilege” to listen in. Privilege to listen. Not vote.
Is This Even Legal
Probably not actually. The Kennedy Center was established by Congress in 1964 as a memorial to JFK after his assassination. Federal law designates it as “the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
CBS News quotes Georgetown Law professor David Super: “There is absolutely no way they can do this legally.” The statute prohibits additional memorials being added to the center after 1983.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said “well look at” whether changing the name requires legislation. So basically admitting the board vote might not be enough.
Kennedy Family Response
Maria Shriver (JFKs niece) called it “beyond comprehension.” Kerry Kennedy (RFKs daughter and RFK Jr.s sister) wrote that Trump “stands in opposition” to everything JFK represented.
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III said “It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”
But the signage went up anyway. Workers added “The Donald” above “John F. Kennedy” on the facade Friday morning.
What About Ticket Sales
CNBC notes multiple outlets have reported declining ticket sales and staffing under Trump’s leadership this year. The New York Times found sales down about 50% year-over-year during a typical October week.
The renaming controversy continues.
So we have declining attendance, a legally dubious name change, and workers literally installing new signage while lawyers figure out if any of this is allowed. Peak 2025.
