The drama over the Kennedy Center just got a new twist, courtesy of a famous family member.
Kerry Kennedy, niece of the late President John F. Kennedy, has promised she’ll personally remove Donald Trump’s name from the newly rebranded Trump-Kennedy Center the moment he leaves the White House.
Her vow comes a day after Trump’s loyalists on the Kennedy Center board voted to affix the president’s name to the iconic arts venue, despite legal questions and widespread backlash.
Kerry Kennedy, also sister to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., didn’t hold back in her announcement, mixing humor with defiance.
“Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building,” she wrote on social media.
“But I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!”
Social Media Pounces on the Controversial Rename
The addition of Trump’s name immediately drew mockery online.
Some critics couldn’t get past the design choices, joking about the mismatched lettering.
One user quipped about the awkward “Ns,” while others likened it to the fictional “Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good.”
The controversy wasn’t just about aesthetics.
Many Democrats pointed out that renaming a federally funded building is technically under Congress’s control, making Trump’s unilateral naming move even more contentious.
Trump’s Surprise and Self-Congratulation
Interestingly, Trump claimed to be “surprised” by the board’s decision, even though he personally purged members he deemed “too woke” and had openly discussed putting his name on the center.
Earlier this year, he even appointed himself chairman of the board.
“This updated exterior designation honors the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the enduring legacy of John F. Kennedy,” the center wrote on its newly rebranded social media account, showcasing the new signage.
A Historical First
Naming a national institution after a sitting president is unprecedented in U.S. history.
Iconic landmarks like the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Kennedy Center itself were all named posthumously.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the board’s vote was unanimous among those loyal to Trump.
However, non-voting ex-officio members did not participate, leading to accusations of censorship and lack of consensus from Democrats like Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
“For the record, this was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition,” Beatty said in a video on X.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell defended the process, noting that ex-officio members never vote.
Trump and the Kennedy Center: A Personal Project
Trump’s involvement with the Kennedy Center has been extensive.
Grenell told the Daily Mail that Trump’s background in real estate convinced him to save the 54-year-old landmark from potential demolition.
“We went downstairs; I showed him the sewer system that is collapsing,” Grenell explained.
Trump opted for renovation rather than tearing it down, securing $250 million from Congress to fund the project.
Trump has long enjoyed putting his name on buildings, casinos, and now, as president, on cultural institutions.
His tenure has included naming a Washington peace institute, creating “Trump accounts” for children, issuing a “Trump Gold Card” for high-paying immigrants, and overhauling parts of the White House.
A Cultural Flashpoint
The Trump-Kennedy Center rename has become a lightning rod for debate over presidential legacy, artistic independence, and historical precedent.
As Kerry Kennedy gears up to remove his name after his presidency, the controversy is far from over—raising questions about what it means to leave a mark on America’s cultural landmarks and who truly controls that legacy.
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