Artist pulls Kennedy Center show after board approves Trump name addition

WASHINGTON, DC: At least one artist considered withdrawing from a scheduled performance at the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts following a decision to add President Donald Trump's name to the venue. Folk singer Kristy Lee, who was set to perform on January 14, 2026, was in discussions about canceling her appearance, according to her spokesperson.

Other performers also expressed concerns about the move, citing its impact on the center’s traditionally nonpartisan identity. The decision sparked broader questions about governance, legality, and the institution’s future.  

Kennedy Center artists react to Trump name addition

The reaction comes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday that the Kennedy Center's board voted to rename the venue to include Trump's name.

“Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!” Leavitt wrote in a post on X. “The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur."

Several artists told NOTUS that the decision changed how they viewed the venue. One performer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the change left a lasting mark on the center, while another expressed concern about what the Kennedy Center historically represented.

“Kennedy Center is supposed to be a memorial, focusing on being nonpartisan," the performer said. "It’s a place where people, regardless of political beliefs, should perform and experience the arts together. That has now shifted.”

Other artists decided to proceed with scheduled performances despite reservations. One performer explained that continuing allowed them to maintain audiences and preserve the institution’s artistic mission beyond the current political moment. 

Kennedy Center board changes and legal questions over Trump rename

The Kennedy Center board now includes several figures connected to the Trump administration, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Second Lady Usha Vance, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, and Allison Lutnick, the wife of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. A source told CNN that Trump phoned into the board meeting ahead of the vote. 

Following the decision, signage on the building was updated to read: “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” Historians and Democratic officials questioned whether the board had the authority to make such a change without congressional approval.

“The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law,” former House historian Ray Smock told the Associated Press. “The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws.”