Washington — The Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees voted to rename the performing arts institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
"I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation," Leavitt wrote on X.
Mr. Trump moved to put his stamp on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts soon after he returned to the White House for his second term. He removed Democratic-appointed members of its board and installed his allies and administration officials to the panel. Trustees serve six-year terms. Mr. Trump also tapped Richard Grenell, who worked in the first Trump administration, as the Kennedy Center's president.
The board in February selected Mr. Trump to serve as its chairman.
Among the members appointed by the president are White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi and second lady Usha Vance.
Mr. Trump had pledged to make "a lot of changes" to the Kennedy Center, "including the seats, the decor, pretty much everything."
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was established by Congress as a national center for performing arts as a living memorial to the late President John F. Kennedy and opened its doors in 1971. It honors achievements in music, theater and dance each year with its honors ceremony. The Kennedy Center Honors, which Mr. Trump hosted, was broadcast on CBS television stations and Paramount+ earlier this month.
The law establishing the Kennedy Center restricts "additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials" to be designated or installed.
