These proposals follow Trump’s appointment of himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center’s board in February 2025, after replacing Biden-appointed trustees with his own allies, including Richard Grenell as president.

The Kennedy Center, established in 1971 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy under Public Law 88-260, is a major cultural institution hosting thousands of performances.

Critics, including Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg and niece Maria Shriver, argue that renaming it violates federal law, which prohibits additional memorials or plaques within the center. Schlossberg called the move an attempt by Trump to overshadow JFK’s legacy, while Shriver labeled it “petty” and “small-minded.”