The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center. Earlier this year, Trump replaced many of The Kennedy Center’s board members and announced the new board had elected him chair.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the renaming announcement in a December 18 social media post. “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.”
Roma Daravi, The Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, also issued a statement: “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. 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.”
Despite outcry from some Democrats who said the name change would need Congressional approval, workers were already adding Trump’s name to the building’s facade on Friday, CNBC reported.
Democratic Leaders Respond
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said it is illegal to rename the Kennedy Center without “legislative action,” The Hill reported. “The Kennedy Center Board has no authority to actually rename the Kennedy Center in the absence of legislative action,” Jeffries said.
Democrats who serve on The Kennedy Center board also said the name change requires Congressional approval. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member, stated on social media that she did not vote for the name change during the meeting. “For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move,” Beatty wrote.
JFK’s Family Speaks Out
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, John F. Kennedy’s grandnephew, responded to the name change news on social media. “The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says,” he wrote.
JFK’s niece Maria Shriver also responded to the news on social media. She said in part: “It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”
