Trump Proposes Renaming the Kennedy Center
In a surprising turn of events, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a prestigious cultural institution in Washington D.C., has found itself at the centre of a political storm. This year's Kennedy Center honourees, including Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford, are sharing the spotlight with a contentious proposal to rename the centre in honour of former President Donald Trump.
The first salvo was fired by Republican Congressman Bob Onder, who introduced the "Make Entertainment Great Again Act" in July 2025. This bill, if passed, would rename the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts. This move follows Trump's appointment as chair of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees earlier in the year, a position he has used to promote reforms and renovations.
However, Trump himself has not made direct attempts to rename the centre after himself. Instead, he has focused on structural renovations and programming changes. His platform, Truth Social, did hint at a potential name change with a post reading "TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER," but no official name change has yet taken place.
The proposed renaming, however, faces significant legal and political hurdles. According to news reports, renaming the Kennedy Center would violate the law that created it, making it uncertain whether Congress can or will finalize such changes. The centre's namesake, the Kennedy family, and some artists have also expressed criticism or opposition to the renaming proposals.
In a response to the proposed name change, John F. Kennedy's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, expressed his opposition, stating that the Trump Administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression, and that Trump uses his powers to suppress free expression and instill fear.
Another hurdle comes in the form of a House Republican-added amendment to a spending bill, signed into law by Trump, to rename the Kennedy Center’s Opera House after First Lady Melania Trump. However, this change has not yet been enacted.
As the debate rages on, it remains uncertain whether the Kennedy Center will bear Trump's name in the near future. While Republican-led legislative proposals seek to rename the Kennedy Center after Trump, no official renaming has occurred, and the effort remains controversial and uncertain in its outcome by August 2025.
Emily Burack, the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, is closely following the developments, covering entertainment, celebrities, and a wide range of other topics. No details have been revealed yet about the planned renovations for the Kennedy Center, but the centre has expressed gratitude for Trump's advocacy, hinting at upcoming changes.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
[1] CNN [2] The Washington Post [3] The New York Times [4] USA Today
- The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a renowned cultural institution, is embroiled in a contentious political dispute over a proposal to rename it after former President Donald Trump.
- The Trump Administration's plan to rename the Kennedy Center has faced significant legal and political hurdles, with some critics arguing that it would violate the law that created the center.
- The proposed renaming has garnered attention in various news outlets, including CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and USA Today.
- While Trump has used his position as chair of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees to promote reforms and renovations, he has not made direct attempts to rename the center after himself.
- Opposition to the proposed name change has come from a variety of sources, including the Kennedy family and some artists, who have criticized or expressed disapproval of the renaming proposals.
- The debate over the renaming of the Kennedy Center continues to escalate, with no official name change having taken place as of August 2025, and the outcome remains uncertain.
