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The White House announced on Thursday that Washington’s famous John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center” in honor of President Donald Trump.
This unusual decision to rename a major cultural landmark after a sitting president marks the latest effort by the 79-year-old Republican to leave his mark on U.S. Capitol Hill during his second term.
Trump has also taken down the White House East Wing to make way for a grand ballroom and is planning to build a large triumphal arch.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the Kennedy Center’s board — which Trump reshuffled earlier this year, removing Democrats before appointing himself as chairman — had voted unanimously in favor of the change.
She explained that the decision was “due to the incredible work President Trump has accomplished over the past year in restoring the building, not only through reconstruction but also in terms of its financial standing and reputation.”
“Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and congratulations to President Kennedy as well, because this will be a truly great team for years to come! The building is sure to reach new heights of success and splendor,” she added.
The impressive white monument is named after President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The center, located along the Potomac River, opened in 1971.
In recent months, Trump has made several references to renaming the center. Earlier this month, at the opening of a peace institute also renamed after him, he called it the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” then quickly corrected himself, saying, “Whoops, excuse me.”
During his first term, Trump, a billionaire, did not attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala, as many of the artists publicly opposed his policies.
This time around, Trump swiftly took control of the center, removing Democratic appointees from the board and ousting its president as part of a broader attack on federally funded cultural institutions he considered too “woke.”
He even personally handed out the honors this year—awarding stars to Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, and the band KISS.
A few days earlier, during the December 5 draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trump received a new peace prize from FIFA and delivered a speech on stage.
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