The Kennedy family is speaking out after the announcement that Washington D.C.’s historic Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center. The decision came from the center’s board of trustees, which includes several new members appointed earlier this year by President Donald Trump. According to a statement, the board voted unanimously to rename the venue in honor of both President John F. Kennedy and President Trump.
The name change has stirred backlash, particularly from members of the Kennedy family. Former Representative Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, questioned whether the name change was legal. He posted on social media that the Kennedy Center was established by an act of Congress as a memorial to President Kennedy and compared the change to trying to rename the Lincoln Memorial.
Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and head of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center, also expressed strong disagreement. In a message shared online, she accused the Trump administration of targeting freedom of speech, including artists and journalists. She claimed that President Kennedy and President Trump represent very different values and said Trump’s name should not appear next to her father’s.
Maria Shriver, daughter of President Kennedy’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, also reacted emotionally. She said she was left “speechless” and in “disbelief.” Shriver had previously clashed with Trump on social media, particularly after his remarks about the death of filmmaker Rob Reiner.
The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F Kennedy. It was named in his honor. He was a man who was interested in the arts, interested in culture, interested in education, language, history. He brought the arts into the White House, and he and my Aunt Jackie… pic.twitter.com/wcGjTp2uqa
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) December 18, 2025
The renaming was announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said the change was a recognition of the Trump administration’s work to restore and financially stabilize the building. According to Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, the vote was unanimous and reflects a bipartisan acknowledgment of Trump’s efforts.
JUST IN:
The Kennedy Center Board has renamed the Kennedy center the “Trump-Kennedy Center” after President Trump helped save the building. pic.twitter.com/3dHIoU75AO
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 18, 2025
Trump himself said he was “surprised and honored” by the decision. He praised the board, calling them “the most distinguished people in the country,” and pointed to the fact that the center had been struggling both financially and structurally before his administration stepped in. He added that the center is now strong and well-supported thanks to those efforts.
While the board reportedly voted unanimously, some are now challenging that claim. Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, stated online that microphones were muted during the meeting and that not all members were able to vote or speak. Schlossberg suggested that the move may have had political motivations, noting that Trump is campaigning for Republican candidates in several high-profile races.
Under federal law, the Kennedy Center was created as a living memorial to President Kennedy. It was signed into law in 1958 and renamed in 1964 after Kennedy’s assassination. Some legal experts say it’s unclear whether the board has the authority to formally change the name without a new act of Congress.
At least one sitting member of Congress, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), said the renaming may be illegal and should be challenged. The Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service and related federal landmarks, has not yet commented on whether the change will require further approval.
LOL!!! House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries MELTSDOWN after the Kennedy Center board votes to rename the performing arts center the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” saying, “These people are pathetic.”
Cry more!
pic.twitter.com/MWCfxEA2Ym— Gunther Eagleman
(@GuntherEagleman) December 18, 2025
(@GuntherEagleman) The move has also affected the arts community, which uses the Kennedy Center for performances, education, and outreach. Some artists have spoken out, while others are waiting to see whether the name change becomes permanent or if legal challenges will follow.
Despite the backlash, Trump supporters have praised the decision, saying the former president deserves credit for investing in and preserving one of the nation’s most iconic cultural institutions. The White House has not indicated whether there will be a formal ceremony to mark the renaming.
At this point, the building will be known as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, though many expect continued debate over the change in the months ahead.
“Come visit. You’ll see that it’s big, common-sense programming, and you’re going to love the new Trump-Kennedy Center. It’s physically and financially in way better shape.”
Kennedy Center President, Ambassador Richard Grenell joined NEWSMAX to discuss the incredible… pic.twitter.com/LvUhOC05UH
— The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) December 19, 2025
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