What began as a reported jest culminated in a striking reality this Friday as workers began affixing the name of the President to the Kennedy Center (KC) in Washington, D.C. The President’s name is being placed alongside that of John F. Kennedy, one of his predecessors.
The decision was made unanimously by the KC’s board of trustees the previous day. These trustees were appointed by the President in February, early in his second term, under the stated premise that the cultural center had been overtaken by “woke ideology” during the Biden administration. The vote followed months of the President publicly discussing the idea.
The legality of the renaming is unclear. As the KC was named in 1964 by an act of Congress, any change would likely require similar Congressional action. The President, however, appeared to bypass this process, potentially anticipating resistance from Republicans who now control both chambers of the Capitol and have recently shown an “unprecedented” tendency to disagree with him.
On Friday, workers began installing the letters of the President’s name, effectively renaming the center The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The complex hosts approximately 2,000 events annually, primarily within its 2,500-seat symphony hall and 2,300-seat opera house.
This move follows a year of increased presidential engagement with the KC, a place the President did not visit during his first term. He has also overseen aesthetic changes, such as painting the exterior columns white, and canceled programs deemed contrary to the MAGA ideology, including a performance by the Washington Gay Men’s Chorus.
Recent events at the KC have signaled this shift. The annual gala honoring cultural figures—this year featuring Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, and Kiss—and the FIFA World Cup draw, which required the cancellation of previously scheduled events and culminated in a performance by Village People (playing the President’s favorite song, YMCA), exemplify this new dynamic.
Several artists, including Rhiannon Giddens and Issa Rae, have voluntarily canceled performances. Renée Fleming and Ben Folds resigned from advisory roles at the KC. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will move its annual residency to another venue next February. Reports indicate a decline in ticket sales, though the White House disputes these claims.
The decision to rename the KC echoes other actions taken by the President, including plans to feature his likeness on a commemorative coin and display his image alongside Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Department of Labor.
The Kennedy Center, inaugurated on September 8, 1971, with a performance commemorating Leonard Bernstein and commissioned by Jacqueline Onassis, has long been a nexus of power and the performing arts on the Potomac River. As of this Friday, it also serves as a monument to the President himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the renaming of the Kennedy Center?
The renaming was prompted by a unanimous decision from the KC’s board of trustees, appointed by the President, who stated the center had been influenced by “woke ideology” during the previous administration.
Is the renaming legally sound?
The legality of the renaming is unclear, as the Kennedy Center was originally named by an act of Congress, suggesting any change would require similar Congressional action.
What changes have occurred at the Kennedy Center since the President’s return to power?
The President has increased his engagement with the KC, overseen aesthetic changes like painting the columns white, and canceled programs he deemed contrary to the MAGA ideology.
What does this move signal about the current political climate in Washington, D.C.?
