Kennedy Center Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote, Sparking Legal Challenges

A vote by the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, composed largely of members appointed by President Donald Trump, unanimously approved renaming the Kennedy Center the Trump-Kennedy Center, officials said on Thursday. The decision immediately drew scrutiny because federal law requires Congressional authorization for official name changes to a national cultural institution, a constraint NBC News has previously noted. House Democrats signaled the change could not take effect without legislative action, and critics warned that it risked politicizing a nonpartisan cultural venue.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, credited the vote to Trump’s work over the past year on the center’s reconstruction, finances, and reputation. In a social media post she said the board’s decision reflected a “truly great team long into the future,” and she congratulated both Trump and former President John F. Kennedy. Trump himself echoed the sentiment, telling reporters that the board had voted unanimously and that he was honored by the outcome. Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, called the change an acknowledgment of Trump’s ongoing transformations at the institution and suggested it represents bipartisan support for the center’s future.

The assertion that the vote was unanimous was disputed by at least one member of Congress. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) said she was muted during the call and could not voice opposition, writing on social media that the claim of unanimity was not accurate.

The Kennedy Center opened in 1971 in Washington, D.C., as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and as a nonpartisan home for the performing arts. In recent years, Trump has remade the center’s leadership and its public-facing posture, a transformation that critics say has politicized programming, reduced audience engagement, and created internal upheaval. The Washington Post has documented changes described as draining the center’s nonpartisan ethos through leadership shifts, resignations, and show cancellations, all framed by Trump’s push to reshape the institution.

This month the president hosted the Kennedy Center Honors for the first time since his previous administration, and he said he had a hand in selecting the 2025 honorees—Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, George Strait, and the rock group Kiss—and rejected several individuals he characterized as “wokesters.” Trump’s supporters argue the overhaul is necessary to modernize and stabilize the center, while critics warn that such changes undermine its role as a neutral cultural institution in a politically divided era.

Beyond the branding question, the move raises practical questions about governance and funding. The legal requirement for congressional authorization means any official renaming could be blocked or revised in Congress, potentially prompting a court challenge or new legislation to resolve the matter. NBC News and other outlets have previously highlighted the potential friction between executive-branch control and congressional oversight when it comes to national symbols and institutions.

Observers note the timing comes as the center continues to pursue capital improvements and fundraising campaigns tied to its physical restoration. Supporters argue that the board’s actions reflect a long view for sustaining a national venue that hosts performances and honors across a broad spectrum of the arts. Critics, however, say the move risks eroding the center’s core mission by entangling it in contemporary political disputes and emboldening further partisan shifts in its leadership and programming.

As the situation unfolds, stakeholders across the arts community are watching closely to see whether Congress will weigh in, challenge the legality of the name change, or seek a negotiated compromise. The Kennedy Center’s leadership has not disclosed a timeline for any formal legal or legislative steps, but all sides acknowledge that a resolution is likely to extend beyond a single press conference or social media post. The center remains a central fixture of Washington’s cultural scene, and its reputation as a national stage for artistic achievement will be tested in the weeks and months ahead as this episode moves through the courts or the halls of Congress.