The board of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC has voted to proceed with renaming the arts institution after President John F Kennedy in favour of Donald Trump, according to a White House announcement on Thursday. The proposal would see the venue called the Trump-Kennedy Center, though the legality of the change remains unclear.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the board had voted unanimously, praising Trump's efforts in 'saving the building'. However, Joe Kennedy III, grandnephew of the former president, expressed doubt over the renaming's legality, stating that the Kennedy Center is a living memorial established by federal law and cannot be renamed any more than the Lincoln Memorial.
The move is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to reshape cultural institutions in the US capital. Trump installed himself as chair of the board in February, calling it a 'take-over' after purging members. Earlier this year, House Republicans also proposed renaming the Opera House after Melania Trump and ordered a review of the Smithsonian Institution.
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio board member, disputed the vote's unanimity, claiming she was muted and not allowed to voice opposition. She called the renaming 'just another attempt to evade the law'. The centre responded by stating that the privilege of listening differs from speaking, but did not directly address her allegations.
