New Signage Installation at the Kennedy Center
On Friday, significant changes are underway at Washington, DC’s renowned performing arts center, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. New signage is being installed that includes President Donald Trump’s name. This move follows a recent decision made by the institution’s board of trustees, who voted just a day earlier to rename the facility in honor of the former president.
The esteemed building has officially been renamed to the Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. This change reflects the board's decision to honor President Trump, marking a notable shift in the center's branding. The center’s social media accounts were also updated on Friday to showcase the new name, signaling a broader commitment to this rebranding effort.
Despite the excitement surrounding the name change, questions regarding the legality of this decision linger. It remains unclear whether the board possesses the requisite authority to rename the arts institution, which Congress designated as a memorial to President Kennedy in 1964, following his tragic assassination in 1963. The renaming has sparked significant backlash, particularly from the Kennedy family. Maria Shriver, a niece of President Kennedy, expressed her disbelief, labeling the effort to rename the memorial after Trump as “beyond comprehension.”
In a related note, Trump took to social media on Thursday to highlight what he describes as “record-setting numbers” in donations to the center, while also teasing plans to encourage Congress to increase funding for the facility. “We’re saving the building. We saved the building. The building was in such bad shape, both physically, financially and every other way. And now it’s very solid, very strong,” Trump stated, emphasizing his commitment to revitalizing the arts center.
Since returning to office, President Trump has significantly reshaped the administration of the performing arts center. He has made substantial changes to its leadership, including gutting the board of trustees and removing its chairman. Following these alterations, Trump was elected chair of the center, having appointed several new members to the board.
The installation of new signage at the Kennedy Center marks the second time this month that a federal building has been renamed to honor President Trump. Earlier, his name was added to the US Institute of Peace, an independent agency, on December 3. The USIP, like the Kennedy Center, underwent significant restructuring earlier this year as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to streamline the federal government.
This article has been updated with additional information to provide a comprehensive overview of the ongoing developments surrounding the renaming of the performing arts center.