Kennedy Center Board Unanimously Approves Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center
Washington, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Trustees unanimously voted to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, a decision the White House attributes to President Trump’s efforts in “saving the building” since appointing himself chairman in February.
Administrative Overhaul and Strategic Rebranding
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday, December 18, 2025, that the board of trustees voted unanimously to approve the name change [1]. The board, which was comprised of appointees selected by President Donald Trump in February 2025, cited the President’s “unbelievable work” in “saving the building” over the last year as the primary motivation for the rebranding [1]. This action serves as the culmination of a governance restructuring that began shortly after the administration took office, when President Trump fired 18 board members appointed by President Biden and installed a new slate of trustees [5]. Simultaneously, the President appointed himself chairman of the board [1][5] and named Ric Grenell as the interim director of the institution [6].
Governance Changes and Financial Realities
While the administration describes the intervention as a rescue effort, data from the past year indicates significant operational challenges following the leadership transition. By the fall of 2025, attendance at the Kennedy Center had plummeted by nearly 40 percent [5]. This sharp decline in patronage coincided with a series of performer cancellations, employee resignations, and public boycotts organized in response to the new management’s policies [5]. The financial impact of this downturn has been acute; Daniel Foster, the principal violist for the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), emphasized in a November 2025 interview that the revenue from ticket sales is critical to the organization’s solvency, noting that it is “not just gravy” [5].
Cultural Clash and Programming Controversies
The rebranding to the “Trump-Kennedy Center” also highlights a disconnect between the administration’s stated cultural directives and the center’s actual programming. President Trump had previously issued a directive demanding “No More Drag Shows,” labeling such performances as “anti-American propaganda” [6]. Despite this mandate, the Kennedy Center’s 2025–2026 season schedule continues to feature productions with drag elements, including Chicago, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical [6]. This persistence of diverse programming suggests a complex internal struggle between the artistic staff’s planning and the chairman’s ideological goals.