The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts has a new name.
The organization’s board unanimously voted to rename the building after Trump, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on X Thursday.
Trump became the chairman of the board earlier this year. He dismissed board members and put his own appointees in place.
“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,” she posted. “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! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur,” she added.
After Trump was named chairman, he promised to make the center “great again.”
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP! Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
“The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” he added.
Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors earlier this month.
Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman wrote on X after the news broke that “The building is statutorily named the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” and “Congress did not give the board the authority to change the name.”
