WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's handpicked board voted Thursday to rename Washington's leading performing arts center as the Trump-Kennedy Center, the White House said.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the vote on social media, saying it was because of the "unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation."
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is seen Nov. 22 in Washington.
Trump, a Republican who is chairman of the board, often refers to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which is named for a Democratic predecessor, as the "Trump Kennedy Center."
Asked Dec. 7 as he walked the red carpet for the Kennedy Center Honors program whether he would rename the venue after himself, Trump said such a decision would be up to the board.
Earlier this month, Trump talked about a "big event on Friday at the Trump Kennedy Center" before saying, "excuse me, at the Kennedy Center," as his audience laughed. He was referring to the FIFA World Cup soccer draw for 2026, in which he participated.
President Donald Trump picks up his FIFA Peace Prize medal, awarded to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, before the Dec. 5 draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
A name change won't sit well with some Kennedy family members.
Maria Shriver, a niece of John F. Kennedy, referred to the legislation introduced in Congress to rebrand the Kennedy Center as the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts as "insane" in a social media post in July.
"It makes my blood boil. It's so ridiculous, so petty, so small minded," she wrote. "Truly, what is this about? It's always about something. 'Let's get rid of the Rose Garden. Let's rename the Kennedy Center.' What's next?"
Trump earlier this year turned the Kennedy-era Rose Garden at the White House into a patio by removing the lawn and laying down paving stones.
Another Kennedy family member, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serves in Trump's Cabinet as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump showed scant interest in the Kennedy Center during his first term as president, but since returning to office in January he replaced board members appointed by Democratic presidents with some of his most ardent supporters, who then elected him as board chairman.
He also criticized the center's programming and its physical appearance and vowed to overhaul both.
Trump secured more than $250 million from the Republican-controlled Congress for renovations of the building.
He attended opening night of the musical "Les Misérables," and last week he served as host of the Kennedy Center Honors program after not attending the show during his first term as president. The awards program is scheduled to be broadcast by CBS and Paramount+ on Dec. 23.
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White House East Wing demolished as Trump moves forward with ballroom construction, photos show
This satellite image shows the White House in Washington on Sept. 26, 2025, with the East Wing intact before demolition began.
This satellite image shows the East Wing mostly demolished Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds up a historic photo showing construction of the East Terrace of the White House in 1902 as she speaks about planned construction of a new ballroom following the demolition of the White House East Wing, during a news briefing Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the White House in Washington.
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People watch from outside a security fence Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, as demolition continues on the East Wing of the White House in Washington.
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Water is sprayed on debris to help with dust control Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, amid demolition work on the East Wing of the White House in Washington.
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Construction crews demolish the East Wing of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington.
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Construction workers atop the U.S. Treasury, bottom right, watch Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, as work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House in Washington.
Construction workers atop the U.S. Treasury, bottom left, watch as work continues Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House in Washington.
Work continues Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House in Washington.
A worker walks through debris Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House in Washington.
