Friday, December 19, 2025
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts added the name of President Donald Trump to the east facade of the the arts center on Dec. 19.
The day before, the Kennedy Center voted to rename itself “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
A slew of photographers observed workers behind a blue tarp as they worked Friday morning to attach the letters of Trump’s name to the marble wall.
The Kennedy Center is considered a living memorial to the 35th President who was assassinated in 1963 and a strong advocate of the arts.
Legal experts have said the only an act of Congress could permit any name change.
Members of the Kennedy family reacted to the renaming with disbelief and anger.
Yesterday, John F. Kennedy’s nephew Timothy Shriver wrote on social media that the institution is “THE memorial to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy.”
“Would they rename the Lincoln memorial? The Jefferson? That would be an insult to great presidents. This too is an insult to a great president.”
Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center — or rather, the Trump Kennedy Center — wrote on X: “Our board recognizes that our Chairman, President Donald J. Trump, has not only saved this historic building but also created a truly bipartisan place to celebrate the arts.”
“Some exciting changes are coming to reflect that—stay tuned!”