How the Board’s Decision Sparked Lawsuits, Boycotts, and a National Conversation
“People don’t realize that The Trump Kennedy Center suffered massive deficits for many years and, like everything else, I merely came in to save it and, if possible, make it far better than ever before!”
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
A decision by a Trump-appointed Board of Trustees to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has stirred significant controversy. The board’s unanimous vote in mid-December 2025 prompted criticism from those who believe the move breaches federal regulations relating to the Kennedy Center, while supporters maintain that the action was within the board’s rights. In response, lawsuits were filed, artists-initiated boycotts, and members of the Kennedy family expressed strong disapproval.
Within twenty-four hours following the vote, workers attached signage bearing Donald Trump’s name to the exterior facade of the Kennedy Center. Plate-cut letters were installed to display: “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
History of the Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center was established by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy following his assassination. Federal law explicitly designates the institution as the “John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” and prohibits adding names or memorials to the exterior without congressional authorization.
The legislation President Lyndon B. Johnson signed to officially rename the National Cultural Center as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is Public Law 88-260 (also known as S.J. Res. 136, the John F. Kennedy Center Act). President Johnson signed it into law on January 23, 1964, just two months after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Section 11 of Public Law 88-260 makes it clear that the renaming of the National Cultural Center to the “John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” was to create the sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy within the city of Washington and its environs.
President Trump believes that his contributions to this memorial justify placing his name on the building. Nevertheless, in doing so he has embarrassed himself while disrespecting the legacy of the John F. Kennedy. Unlike businesses such as resorts, hotels, or casinos, this building does not require rebranding. President Trump’s actions are inappropriate in this context. He should have informed his Kennedy Center Board of Trustees that adding his name to Washington D.C.’s only national memorial to John Fitzgerald Kennedy was not fitting. However, considering his fixation on the “Trump” brand, it’s probable that he came up with the idea himself.
How the Board Was Reshaped
Earlier in 2025, President Trump moved aggressively to restructure the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, removing or sidelining existing members and appointing loyalists and political allies. The reconstituted board later elected Trump himself as Chairman.
This newly installed board is the same body that voted unanimously for the renaming.
Leadership
- Donald J. Trump – Chairman of the Board
The board includes many political allies, donors, and former administration figures, including:
Key Trump-Appointed Trustees — Prior Trump Associations
- Pamela Gross — Republican donor and Trump political supporter
- Mindy Levine — GOP fundraiser with ties to Trump-aligned causes
- Lynda Lomangino — Longtime Trump donor and Mar-a-Lago associate
- Allison Lutnick — Wife of Trump ally Howard Lutnick; donor network ties
- Dan Scavino — Former Trump White House Deputy Chief of Staff; close confidant
- Usha Vance — Wife of JD Vance, a prominent Trump ally and supporter
- Susie Wiles — Senior Trump campaign adviser and political strategist
- John Falconetti — Florida businessman and Trump donor
- Cheri Summerall — Republican donor associated with Trump fundraising circles
- Sergio Gor — Trump administration aide; foreign policy staff alum
- Emilia May Fanjul — Member of prominent donor family supportive of Trump
- Patricia Duggan — Major Trump donor and GOP activist
- Dana Blumberg — Social figure connected to Trump donor networks
Additional Reported Trustees
- Brian D. Ballard — Prominent Trump lobbyist and fundraiser
- Pamela Bondi — Former Florida AG; Trump impeachment defense team member
- Elaine Chao — Former Trump Transportation Secretary
- Pamella Roland DeVos — Member of DeVos family; Trump donor network
- Douglas Manchester — Real estate developer and Trump supporter
- Catherine B. Reynolds — GOP megadonor with Trump ties
- Paolo Zampolli — Trump associate; former UN-related appointee
Critically, ex-officio members of the board—such as congressional representatives—were reportedly excluded from voting under revised bylaws, a move now being scrutinized in court.
Outrage From the Kennedy Family and Cultural Community
Reaction was swift and fierce.
- Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece, called the decision “beyond comprehension.”
- Kerry Kennedy vowed publicly to have Trump’s name removed.
- Democratic lawmakers, constitutional scholars, historians, and artists condemned the move as illegal, egotistical, and authoritarian.
Several high-profile performers canceled scheduled appearances at the Kennedy Center in protest, while donors announced they were freezing or withdrawing support.
Lawsuits and Legal Questions
Multiple lawsuits now challenge the renaming, arguing that:
- The board exceeded its authority under federal law
- Congressional approval is required for any exterior name change
- The restructuring of the board itself may violate statutory governance rules
Legal experts note that the Kennedy Center’s status as a congressionally chartered memorial makes it fundamentally different from private cultural institutions.
If courts agree, the renaming could be overturned regardless of the board’s vote.
Trump and Allies Push Back
President Trump and his supporters argue the board acted lawfully and appropriately.
They cite:
- Trump’s role in securing federal funding for renovations
- Increased attendance and donations during his involvement
- The board’s internal authority to manage the institution
Supporters frame the backlash as politically motivated resistance rather than a legitimate legal dispute.
A National Precedent at Stake
Beyond Trump and Kennedy, the controversy raises a deeper issue:
Can a sitting or former president use political influence to attach their own name to a federally protected national memorial?
Historians warn that allowing such a precedent could open the door to future politicization of American landmarks – turning shared national institutions into vehicles for personal legacy building.
What Happens Next?
The outcome now rests with the courts – and potentially Congress.
Until then, the Kennedy Center stands as a symbol not only of American culture, but of an escalating struggle over power, law, and historical memory in the United States.
Ultimately, the act of seeking to honor oneself – especially by affixing one’s own name to a building already dedicated to a revered and tragically lost former president – strikes many as an affront to the spirit of humility and collective remembrance that such institutions embody. It not only diminishes the integrity of national memorials but also risks overshadowing the legacy of those who have made profound sacrifices for the nation. In the case of the Kennedy Center, this gesture is particularly distasteful, as it threatens to supplant the memory of President Kennedy’s service and loss with a display of personal aggrandizement, undermining the very purpose of the memorial itself.
It is troubling that only a few Republicans have opposed President Trump putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Although President Trump expects unwavering loyalty, that does not mean he deserves it. Adding his name to the Kennedy Center was inappropriate. If he wants federal property named after him, the southern border wall would be a more fitting choice for the name “Donald J. Trump”.
