Trump Faces Senate Hurdle in Bid to Rename Kennedy Center, Sparking Outrage From Family and Lawmakers
WASHINGTON — In a move that has ignited a firestorm of controversy, the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, largely appointed by President Donald J. Trump, voted unanimously on Thursday to prepend the president’s name to the iconic institution, rechristening it the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The decision, executed with swift physical changes including new signage installed under the cover of night, has drawn sharp rebukes from the Kennedy family, Democratic lawmakers and even some Republicans, who argue it violates federal law and desecrates a national memorial.
The Kennedy Center, perched along the Potomac River, has long stood as a symbol of American cultural excellence and a tribute to the slain 35th president. Established by Congress in 1958 as the National Cultural Center under President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vision for a hub of artistic innovation, it was renamed in honor of John F. Kennedy just two months after his assassination in 1963. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation on Jan. 23, 1964, designating it a “living memorial” to Kennedy’s legacy of supporting the arts. Historians note that Kennedy himself championed the project, hosting a star-studded fundraiser at the White House in 1962 that featured luminaries like Pablo Casals and Marian Anderson.
But under Mr. Trump’s administration, the center has undergone significant transformations. The president, who has frequently criticized its programming as “too liberal,” ousted much of the previous board in early 2025 and installed loyalists, including several donors to his campaign. Sources familiar with the board’s deliberations, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters, said the renaming vote was pushed through with minimal debate. Rep. Joyce Beatty, Democrat of Ohio and an ex officio board member, claimed she was repeatedly muted during the virtual meeting when attempting to voice objections. “This isn’t just about a name; it’s about erasing history,” Ms. Beatty told The New York Times in an interview. “I tried to ask questions, to push for transparency, but my voice was silenced each time.”
The physical overhaul was equally abrupt. Contractors arrived Friday morning, shrouded by blue tarps, to affix gleaming gold letters proclaiming the new moniker. By midday, the center’s website reflected the change, prompting immediate backlash on social media. Hashtags like #KeepItKennedy and #TrumpDesecration trended nationwide, with users sharing archival photos of the center’s opening in 1971, attended by Ethel Kennedy and other family members. One viral post from a D.C. resident read: “Born and raised here, I’ve cherished this place as a beacon of unity. Now it’s tainted.”
The Kennedy family, historically protective of their patriarch’s legacy, responded with uncharacteristic fury. Maria Shriver, a niece of President Kennedy and a prominent journalist, posted on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter): “The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F. Kennedy. It was named in his honor. He was a man who was interested in the arts, in culture, in bringing people together.” Her brother, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., echoed the sentiment in a statement, calling the move “an affront to American decency.” Caroline Kennedy, the former ambassador to Japan and daughter of J.F.K., reportedly reached out to congressional allies, vowing to fight the change. Jack Schlossberg, J.F.K.’s grandson, took to social media with a pointed jab: “Next he’ll rename the Lincoln Memorial. This is beyond comprehension.”
Legal experts and lawmakers contend the renaming oversteps executive bounds. The center’s designation as a national memorial is enshrined in federal statute, requiring congressional approval for alterations. “A board vote doesn’t supersede an act of Congress,” said Laurence Tribe, a constitutional scholar at Harvard Law School. “This is performative theater, not lawful governance.” Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer of New York, have introduced legislation to reaffirm the original name and block the change, though it faces a 60-vote filibuster threshold in the divided chamber. Even some Republicans, wary of precedent, have expressed unease. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah told reporters, “National memorials should transcend partisan whims. This sets a dangerous example—what’s next, renaming Arlington?”
The episode fits into a broader pattern of Mr. Trump’s legacy-building efforts. Since his return to office, he has pursued ambitious renovations, including White House plaques commemorating his achievements and proposals for new monuments. Critics argue these distract from pressing issues like inflation and foreign policy tensions. A White House spokesperson defended the renaming, stating: “The president was honored by the board’s decision. Under his leadership, we’ve saved the building financially and physically.” Yet, attendance figures released by the center show a dip in ticket sales amid the controversy, with patrons like longtime subscriber Emily Carter declaring, “I won’t set foot there as long as his name overshadows Kennedy’s.”
As the Senate debates the measure, the dispute underscores enduring questions about presidential power and institutional norms. Could this lead to a cascade of renamings with each administration? Or will it reinforce the guardrails of democracy? For now, the signage stands, a gilded symbol of division in a polarized capital. But with court challenges looming and public pressure mounting, insiders predict a swift reversal. As one former board member put it anonymously: “Monuments are meant to endure, not to be rewritten on a whim.”
