Kennedy Center gets renamed to Trump-Kennedy Center

2025, December 25

United States

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been renamed to "The Trump and Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts." by President Donald J. Trump from a board vote by the Kennedy Center board and staff. The sign for the renaming of The "Trump" and Kennedy Center was put up on December 19, 2025 and was also visible on The Official Kennedy Center Website.

This renaming was also under scrutiny by experts and officials like U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty. Several, have called it "illegal," citing The Kennedy Center Act of 1964: "SEC. 11. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, designated by this Act, shall be the sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy within the city of Washington and its environs."

Some commentators and political viewers, like Rachel Maddow, said it would be torn down and renamed back to "The Kennedy Center," allegedly because a board vote can not outrule Congressional decision. Although this is "official" in that the name has been physically changed on the building and website, some people in opposition to the legality of these actions, still reportedly continued to refer to it as "The Kennedy Center."