On the morning of December 19, 2025, the iconic façade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., underwent a transformation that sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital. Workers affixed gleaming new letters above the entrance, spelling out: “THE DONALD J. TRUMP AND THE JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.” The move, executed with surprising speed, followed a board vote just a day earlier and ignited a fierce debate about tradition, legality, and the very soul of American democracy.
According to Newsweek, the Kennedy Center’s board—chaired and largely appointed by President Donald Trump—voted on December 18 to add Trump’s name to the storied venue. By the next morning, the change was already a physical reality, with the Center’s website and branding updated to match. The White House, in a statement Thursday, referred to the venue as the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” confirming the board’s decision.
The Kennedy Center, established as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1963, has long stood as a beacon for the arts, culture, and education. It opened its doors in 1971, nearly eight years after Kennedy’s death, and has since hosted countless music, opera, drama, and dance productions, as well as educational programs. Its very name was meant to honor a president whose vision and advocacy for the arts left an indelible mark on American culture.
The abrupt renaming, however, has sparked widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with critics arguing that it violates both the letter and the spirit of U.S. law. As Slate pointed out, American political culture has historically shunned the practice of honoring living political leaders with buildings, institutions, or even currency. The tradition, deeply rooted in the country’s republican ideals, dictates that such honors are reserved for the deceased, often as a result of bipartisan consensus and public service beyond reproach.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, joined protesters outside the Kennedy Center on December 20, calling the addition of Trump’s name a “desecration of the Kennedy Center.” Addressing the crowd, he vowed, “Mark my words, whether it’s a matter of weeks or months, Donald Trump’s name will come down off the Kennedy Center.” He further asserted, “Donald Trump does not believe in the arts, and we will not allow him to soil the name of the Kennedy Center.” Van Hollen pledged to introduce an amendment to the interior appropriations bill when Congress reconvenes in January 2026, aiming to reverse what he called a “blatantly illegal” move by the board.
Protesters at the rally held signs reading “We are the Kennedy Center,” “Trump is no J.F.K.,” and “Make Art, Fight Fascists.” The sentiment was echoed by numerous public figures and arts advocates. Maria Shriver, former first lady of California and JFK’s niece, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on December 18, “The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F. Kennedy. He was a man who was interested in the arts, interested in culture, interested in education, language, history. It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”
Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee added his voice on December 18, declaring, “Renaming the Kennedy Center for Trump would be a sacrilege. JFK was a martyred, historic US president whose name is synonymous with artistic excellence in America. The idea that Trump would put his name BEFORE Kennedy’s—or even alongside it—is obscene. The Kennedy Center should never be renamed.”
Other members of the Kennedy family weighed in as well. Kerry Kennedy, JFK’s niece and a noted human rights activist, posted a photo of Trump’s name on the Center with a vow: “Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!”
The legality of the board’s decision has been called into question. According to Newsweek, 20 U.S. Code 76j explicitly restricts the Kennedy Center to be a memorial solely for President Kennedy, prohibiting additional memorials or plaques in public areas, except under very specific circumstances—such as acknowledging a foreign gift or a major donor. Critics argue that the board, despite its authority over operations, lacks the power to unilaterally rename a federally designated memorial without congressional approval.
The speed and manner of the renaming left many in Washington stunned. As The New York Times reported, “The speed with which this name change happened took many in Washington by surprise. It was only the day before that the Kennedy Center’s board—mostly handpicked by Mr. Trump—voted to change the name. There were immediate questions about legality.” President Trump, for his part, expressed being “surprised” and “honored” by the board’s decision.
Supporters of the change, though fewer in number, have defended it as a recognition of Trump’s role in revitalizing the Center. Erika Donalds, wife of Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds, wrote on X, “POTUS revived the Kennedy Center, rescuing it from financial ruin, physical decline, and reputational damage caused by years of Democrat mismanagement and liberal control. Renaming it the Trump-Kennedy Center is a well-deserved honor, one of many still to come!”
Yet, for many, the move conjured uncomfortable historical parallels. Slate drew comparisons to authoritarian regimes where leaders routinely named institutions after themselves while still in power—citing Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Josef Stalin, and Kim Jong-un. In contrast, the United States has long avoided such practices, with presidents and other leaders typically honored only after death and often by political opponents, not their own appointees.
The Kennedy Center’s own post on X, dated December 19, attempted to strike a tone of continuity: “Today, we proudly unveil the updated exterior designation—honoring the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the enduring legacy of John F. Kennedy.” But for critics, the move represents a dangerous precedent—a blurring of the lines between national honor and personal aggrandizement.
As Congress prepares to return in January, the future of the Kennedy Center’s name hangs in the balance. Senator Van Hollen and his allies are preparing legislative measures to restore the Center’s original designation, while legal experts debate the board’s authority and the implications of this unprecedented act. For now, the letters remain—a daily reminder of a nation wrestling with its history, its values, and the meaning of its monuments.
With passions running high and the debate far from settled, the Kennedy Center stands at the crossroads of art, memory, and politics—its walls now bearing the weight of a controversy that may define an era.
