Donald Trump has continued to leave a strong imprint on Washington since returning to office, and in an unprecedented move for a sitting president, the United States capital’s most prominent arts institution is now set to carry his name as well.
The Kennedy Center, originally named after assassinated president John F. Kennedy, will be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Centre” following a vote by its board, which Trump himself selected earlier this year, according to a statement from the White House on Thursday.
The decision effectively places Trump’s name alongside that of Kennedy at the iconic venue and marks the climax of the 79-year-old Republican’s campaign to remake an institution he has long criticised as being too “woke.”
The move comes amid other ambitious projects attributed to Trump, including plans to demolish the White House East Wing to construct a $400 million ballroom and the announcement of a large triumphal arch.
“I was surprised by it; I was honoured by it,” Trump told reporters after the announcement, despite previously making repeated remarks about changing the name of the performing arts centre.
Trump, a billionaire businessman, also serves as chairman of the board after appointing himself earlier this year, following the removal of Democratic members shortly after his second inauguration in January.
The initial announcement was made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a post on X, where she said the “highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously” in favour of the name change.
Leavitt said the decision was taken “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.”
“Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!” she added.
Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, while the white-marble arts complex on the banks of the Potomac River officially opened in 1971.
However, the claim of a unanimous vote was immediately disputed.
“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. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda,” said Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio who remains on the board through a congressional mandate, in a post on X.
For decades, the Kennedy Center has been a cherished cultural institution in Washington, but it has also been a frequent target of Trump’s criticism since his first term in office.
Until this year, Trump had never attended the annual fundraising gala honouring recipients of the Kennedy Center Honours, partly because many of the celebrated artists openly opposed his policies.
During his second term, however, Trump moved swiftly to assert control over the centre. He removed Democratic appointees from the board, dismissed its president, and filled key positions with allies, as part of a broader push against federally funded cultural institutions he considers too “woke.”
Trump has also taken a hands-on role in overseeing renovations, making several visits to inspect the site and publicly praising the quality of the white marble being installed.
Earlier this year, he personally presided over the Kennedy Center Honours ceremony, presenting awards to “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, disco icon Gloria Gaynor, and rock band KISS.
Just days before that event, Trump appeared on stage at the December 5 draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he received a new peace prize from football’s governing body and delivered a speech.
In recent weeks, Trump had repeatedly hinted—sometimes jokingly—at the idea of renaming the centre, comments that now appear to have foreshadowed the decision.
“You have a big event at the Trump-Kennedy Centre—whoops, excuse me, at the Kennedy Centre,” Trump said earlier this month during the opening of a peace institute that had also been renamed in his honour.
“Whoops, excuse me. Pardon me, such a terrible mistake.”
What you should know
The renaming of the Kennedy Center to include Donald Trump’s name reflects his broader effort to reshape major cultural and political institutions during his second term.
By appointing allies to the board and taking direct control of the centre, Trump has transformed an arts venue long associated with bipartisan legacy into a symbol of his political influence. While the White House claims unanimous support for the change, dissent from at least one board member suggests internal controversy.
The move has reignited debate over politicisation of cultural institutions and the appropriateness of a sitting president attaching his name to a national landmark.
