Kennedy Center board votes unanimously to rename venue Trump Kennedy Center

Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times on Dec 18, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted to change the name of the world-famous complex to the Trump Kennedy Center.

"I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building," Leavitt posted on X.

Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the center, confirmed the news of the name change.

"The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to name the institution the Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," Daravi said in a statement. "The unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction. The new Trump Kennedy Center reflects the unequivocal bipartisan support for America's cultural center for generations to come."

According to a post on X by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio — an ex officio member of the board — the vote was not unanimous.

"I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship," Beatty wrote.

In a video accompanying her post, Beatty said, "Clearly the Congress has a say in this. It's important for us to know that this is another attempt to evade the law and not let the people have their say."

Kennedy Center President Ambassador Richard Grenell, however, tweeted that ex-officio members historically don't get a vote.

The news rattled the arts world but was not unexpected. Ever since Trump fired the existing board in early February and installed himself as chairman, rumors have circulated that a name change might be imminent, and the president has repeatedly hinted at it. The legality of changing the name of the center through a simple board vote remains unclear. The Kennedy Center was established as a living memorial by federal statute, making Congressional approval a requirement for an official name change.

"Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur," Leavitt concluded in her post.

The proposed name change is part of a series of sweeping changes that Trump and his newly appointed board, including board president Richard Grenell, have enacted since they took over management of the center. When the president first announced the changes, he said he was eliminating all those "who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture."

A number of Trump's closest allies were appointed to the board including chief of staff Susie Wiles, attorney general Pam Bondi, second lady Usha Vance and conservative TV host Laura Ingraham.

Major stars soon pulled out of leadership positions at the center, including TV producer Shonda Rhimes, musician Ben Folds and opera star Renée Fleming; and a variety of high-profile touring shows such as "Hamilton" canceled upcoming engagements.

"The Kennedy Center has long been an artistic center historically devoid of a political point of view, with programming agnostic to the policy shifts of the times. At its heart, 'Hamilton' celebrates American diversity. The recent shift in the Kennedy Center's ideology and board leadership has made it untenable for a production like 'Hamilton' to celebrate and be celebrated there today," "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda said is a statement to The Times in March.

In October the Washington Post reported that ticket sales had plummeted for the Kennedy Center's three largest performance venues.

With his takeover of the Kennedy Center, Trump has taken a special interest in shaping the artistic narrative of the venue. He has made it clear that he loves big Broadway shows like "Les Misérables," and he hand-picked a new crop of performers for the recent Kennedy Center honors, including Sylvester Stallone, George Strait and the rock band KISS. He also was the first sitting president to serve as the emcee for the annual ceremony.

_____