Introduction to the Renaming of the Kennedy Center
The historical Kennedy Center could be renamed Donald Trump sooner than later. Trump spoke from the Oval Office on Friday that the institution could bear its name in a few days. "Some people call it the ‘Trump Kennedy Center’, but we are not yet ready to do it completely," said Trump. "Maybe in a week or so."
Background on the Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center was made accessible to the public in 1971 and comprises several stages, including the concert hall, the opera house, and the Eisenhower Theater. The concert hall and the opera house both have more than 2,000 people. The center has been a big focus for Trump in its second term. Shortly after taking office, he appointed himself head of the center and wiped the former President Joe Biden’s board in favor of his own tips, including the placement of Maga loyalist Richard Grenell.
Trump’s Involvement with the Kennedy Center
Trump’s comments came during his announcement that the FIFA World Cup was drawn at the institution on December 5, just a few days before the Kennedy Center was honored. In a first, he will act as this year’s host for the ceremony and honor George Strait, Kiss, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford. Tom Cruise was offered the award, but declined due to planning conflicts.
Reactions to the Renaming
The move to rename the Kennedy Center after Trump has been in the middle of a wave of protests and cancellations since he took the helm at the institution. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the main producer of the musical Jeffrey Seller canceled a planned 2026 run in the center at the beginning of this year. Several performers of the popular musical The Miserables’ touring company also planned a boycott of the show for the night that Trump took part in the performance of the Kennedy Center, according to a report.
Support for the Renaming
Trump mentioned that the facility is renamed several times and has received support. In July, the Republican representative Bob Onder from Missouri presented a legislative template called "Make Entertainment Great Again" in front of Trump’s campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" to drive the process forward. Under described Trump as the "patron saint of the arts and a staple food of the pop culture landscape" in an opinion announcement of the bill.
Legislative Actions
This bill takes place after the Republican representative Mike Simpson from Idaho has introduced a change in a financing law to make Melania Trump the honorary chairman of the center. The measure, which was approved by the House Appropriations Committee on July 22, passed 33-25. “This is an excellent way to recognize [Melania Trump’s] support and commitment to the promotion of the arts, and I would encourage members to vote for this Republican EN bloc change application,” said Simpson.
