Trump secures board approval to add his name to Kennedy Center, White House says

WASHINGTON, DC: The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will soon carry President Donald Trump’s name alongside that of its original namesake, following a unanimous vote by the center’s board of trustees, according to the White House.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the decision on Thursday, December 18, in a post on X, saying that the board, chaired by Trump himself, agreed to rename the venue the Trump–Kennedy Center.

Karoline Leavitt announces renaming to Trump‑Kennedy Center

Leavitt credited the president with revitalizing the institution during his return to office.

“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,” Leavitt wrote.

She cited what she described as Trump’s “unbelievable work” in restoring the building’s finances, overseeing reconstruction efforts and repairing its public reputation.

“The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur,” she added, congratulating both Trump and the late President John F Kennedy.

Trump reshaped the board after returning to office

Trump assumed the role of chair earlier this year after removing multiple board members and replacing them with his own appointees, a move that drew sharp attention across the arts and political worlds.

"The board is a very distinguished board, most distinguished people in the country and I was surprised by it and I was honored by it," Trump said when asked by reporters in a White House press meet about his reaction regarding the renaming.

In a February post on Truth Social, Trump defended the overhaul as necessary to usher in what he called a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

He said that the Kennedy Center had strayed from its mission and needed new leadership aligned with his vision.

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote at the time. “I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision.”

Trump also criticized past programming, claiming that the venue had hosted events he viewed as inappropriate.

“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth- THIS WILL STOP,” he wrote, adding that the institution is “an American Jewel” that must reflect “the brightest STARS on its stage.”

Since taking the helm, Trump has played a visible role in the center’s operations and public profile.

Earlier this month, he personally hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, placing the presidency front and center at one of the nation’s most prestigious cultural events.