Kennedy Center Board Votes Unanimously to Add Donald Trump’s Name to Iconic D.C. Venue
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will now honor two U.S. presidents after its board of trustees voted unanimously to rename the landmark cultural institution “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
The historic move was finalized on December 18, 2025, and reflects what board members described as President Trump’s pivotal role in rescuing the iconic venue from near collapse—financially, structurally, and reputationally.
Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations at the Kennedy Center, said the former president was responsible for saving the institution “from financial ruin and physical destruction.” At the Kennedy Center Honors, Trump told Breitbart News the venue had been “really enhanced” under his administration’s guidance and declared, “We saved the Kennedy Center.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the announcement on X, stating, “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.”
Leavitt noted that the vote was not just about repairs or finances, but about legacy. “Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation,” she said. “Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future.”
The board also emphasized that the decision reflects “unequivocal bipartisan support” for the future of America’s cultural flagship. The renaming follows a dramatic year of transformation at the center, which has undergone physical renovations, program overhauls, and a shift in leadership.
In February 2025, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was removing several Kennedy Center board members who, in his words, “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” He condemned programming that included drag shows targeting youth, calling it unacceptable. “THIS WILL STOP,” he wrote, while describing the Kennedy Center as “an American Jewel” that “must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage.”
Under Trump’s stewardship, the Kennedy Center broke its all-time attendance record in March 2025 with a public event titled “EARTH to SPACE: Arts Breaking the Sky,” which brought over 11,000 people to the venue. According to the center, 76% of attendees had never visited the Kennedy Center before.
The renaming marks a cultural and political milestone in Washington, recognizing Trump’s hands-on involvement in reshaping a pillar of American artistic life while linking his legacy with one of the 20th century’s most iconic presidents.