Board Votes to Rename Kennedy Center to Trump-Kennedy Center
On December 18, 2025, the board unanimously voted to rename the Kennedy Center as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, also known as the Trump-Kennedy Center. This renaming honors President Donald Trump for saving the center from financial ruin and physical destruction, as well as for modernizing the building. Official statements cited by Roma Daravi and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt framed the renaming as recognition of President Trump's impact both on the center and on arts policy.
Although all board members were invited to attend the vote, ex-officio member Representative Joyce Beatty contested the unanimity, stating that the vote was not unanimous and that she was muted during proceedings. The Kennedy Center originally opened in 1971, with the building constructed in the 1960s. The decision to rename the center follows precedents of honoring presidents and renaming institutions, such as the U.S. Institute of Peace and past presidential base renamings.
During a White House event, President Trump commented that the center was saved and is now strong, with ongoing donor support and funding ensuring its future. He also suggested the possibility of future television exposure related to the center.
