White House confirms Kennedy Center will be renamed after Donald Trump
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed the Kennedy Center will be renamed after President Donald Trump.
The White House correspondent said that board members, who Trump selected himself, have agreed the cultural institution will be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Leavitt praised the board members, calling them some of the most successful people from all parts of the world and confirmed that the reasoning to change the name of the American Institute was to honour the “unbelievable work the President has done over the last year in saving the building.”
The press secretary added: “Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation. Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!”
Trump appointed Richard Grenell as head of the Kennedy Center after firing former president, Deborah Rutter, in February 2025. He admitted to firing Rutter because he deemed programming at the center too woke.
The President wrote on Truth Social: “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA – ONLY THE BEST.”
The 47th President hosted the Kennedy Center Honors on December 7th and referred to the building as the Trump-Kennedy Center during one of his speeches, which was assumed to be a joke.
He said: “The Trump-Kennedy Center,” and then waited a moment before correcting himself, “I mean, the ‘Kennedy Center’. I’m sorry. This is terribly embarrassing.”
Karoline Leavitt confirmed she believes the new name will give the building “new levels of success and grandeur.”
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