The board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts has voted to rename the iconic cultural institution the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, sparking legal questions and public backlash.
Eko Hot News reports that the decision was taken during a board meeting on Thursday, following a unanimous vote by trustees, according to a statement released by the centre’s spokeswoman, Roma Daravi.
Daravi said the new name was approved to recognise President Donald Trump’s contributions to the institution since assuming office for a second term.
Trump, who was elected chair of the Kennedy Centre board in February by a newly reconstituted panel, has previously joked about renaming the venue the “Trump Kennedy Centre.”
Sources familiar with the meeting said Trump also joined the session by phone, where the board approved the name change.
Speaking later at an Oval Office event, Trump said he was “honoured” and “surprised” by the decision, describing it as an initiative introduced by a board member and supported unanimously.
By Thursday afternoon, the Kennedy Centre’s official website reflected the new branding, displaying “The Trump Kennedy Centre” at the top of its homepage.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt welcomed the move, congratulating both Trump and the late President John F. Kennedy, and describing the development as a step toward greater success for the institution.
However, the vote has generated controversy, with concerns raised over its legality and claims that the decision was not truly unanimous.
Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member, disputed the claim, stating that she was muted during the virtual meeting while attempting to raise objections and ask questions.
Members of the Kennedy family also condemned the move, arguing that the centre is a federally designated memorial that cannot be renamed by the board alone.
Former Congressman Joe Kennedy III said the Kennedy Centre was established by federal law as a memorial to President Kennedy, adding that renaming it would be akin to renaming the Lincoln Memorial.
Legal experts have questioned the authority of the board to effect such a change, citing legislation passed after Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 that restricts alterations to the memorial’s designation.
Georgetown Law professor David Super described the decision as likely unlawful but noted uncertainty over who would have the legal standing to challenge it in court.
Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece, also criticised the move, describing it as “beyond comprehension” and highlighting her uncle’s deep commitment to arts and culture.
Since returning to the office, Trump has moved aggressively to reshape the Kennedy Centre, including removing its former leadership, appointing loyalists, and securing funding for renovations.
He has also influenced programming, staffing and artistic direction, promoting what he calls a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture” and vowing that the centre will not be “woke.”
