In a move that has ignited significant controversy, the name of former US President Donald Trump was officially added to the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Friday morning. The decision, approved by the center's board, has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from members of the Kennedy family.
Kennedy Family's Fiery Reaction
The alteration, which now reads "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," was met with immediate and passionate opposition. Kerry Kennedy, daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, took to social media platform X to voice her disgust and pledge action.
"Three years and one month from today, I'm going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building," she declared, adding that she would need help holding the ladder. She humorously noted she was applying for a carpenter's card to ensure it would be a "union job."
Kerry Kennedy contrasted the values of her uncle, President John F. Kennedy—"justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion"—with those of Donald Trump, stating the former president's name should not stand alongside JFK's.
Widespread Family Condemnation and Legal Questions
Other prominent Kennedy relatives joined the chorus of disapproval. Maria Shriver, JFK's niece and former First Lady of California, called the change "not dignified" and "not funny." She sarcastically speculated on X about what might be renamed next, suggesting "the Trump Lincoln Memorial" or "the Trump Smithsonian."
Adding a legal dimension to the criticism, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, questioned the move's legality. He emphasized that the center is a living memorial to a fallen president established by federal law, arguing it cannot be renamed any more than the Lincoln Memorial could.
Board Defense and Trump's Role
The center's interim President, Richard Grenell, pushed back against the legal doubts on X. He asserted that the board's vote does not impact the congressional memorial to President Kennedy. The name change was confirmed by both the White House press secretary and the Kennedy Center's VP of public relations.
The controversy stems directly from Donald Trump's role as chairman of the center's board, a position from which he handpicked its members earlier this year. Trump praised the board's decision, calling its members distinguished and claiming he had turned around an institution that was in "bad shape, physically, financially, and in every other way." He had previously teased the new name during the Kennedy Center Honors event earlier this month.
The dispute highlights a deep cultural and political divide, framing a battle over legacy, values, and the sanctity of presidential memorials in the heart of the American capital.
