Trump secures legacy? Kennedy Center renamed amid legal outcry

The board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Thursday to rename the national arts institution. The facility will now be known as “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

A center spokeswoman stated the unanimous vote honours President Trump’s work at the institution since taking over early in his second term. Trump, who was elected chairman by a newly configured board in February, had frequently joked about the “Trump Kennedy Center.” According to a source, his handpicked board approved the change during a meeting he called into on Thursday.

The decision has ignited immediate legal and political controversy. The arts center was designated by Congress in 1964 as a memorial to the late Democratic President John F. Kennedy. Federal law explicitly states that no additional memorials or plaques shall be designated in the building’s public areas after 1983.

Members of the Kennedy family swiftly condemned the move. Former Congressman Joe Kennedy III stated, “It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial.” Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece, called the effort “beyond comprehension.”

While the White House called the vote unanimous, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio board member, contested that account. In a social media video, she claimed she was muted each time she tried to voice opposition or ask questions during the crucial vote.

Legal experts suggest the board’s action is likely unlawful but question who would have the legal standing to challenge it in court. “There is absolutely no way they can do this legally,” said Georgetown Law professor David Super, though he noted the practical difficulties of mounting a lawsuit.

The vote culminates Trump’s sweeping transformation of the institution since his return to office. He overhauled its leadership, installed loyalists like former ambassador Richard Grenell as president, and redirected programming with a mandate to target “the masses” and avoid being “woke.” Trump has also overseen major renovations, funded in part by new congressional allocations.

Following the vote, the center’s website header was updated to read “The Trump Kennedy Center.” President Trump called the decision an honor, claiming the institution is now “very solid, very strong” after being in bad shape “physically [and] financially.”