GOP bill seeks to rename Kennedy Center for Trump
Share this @internewscast.com

(The Hill) – A House Republican’s bill would strip former President Kennedy’s name from the Washington institution created in the 35th commander in chief’s honor and instead have it known as the “Trump Center for the Performing Arts.”

The bill, recently introduced by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.), aims to “designate the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the ‘Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts.'”

Representatives for Onder and the Kennedy Center didn’t immediately return a request for comment about the proposed name change.

In an earlier statement, Onder called Trump “a patron of the arts and a staple of the pop-culture landscape.”

Dubbing the bill the Make Entertainment Great Again (MEGA) Act, a play on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” Onder said, “I cannot think of a more ubiquitous symbol of American exceptionalism in the arts, entertainment, and popular culture at large than President Trump.”

House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment earlier this month to the interior, environment and related agencies annual spending bill that would rename a space inside the Kennedy Center the prominent Washington arts hub’s famed opera house the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.”

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to view opening night of “Les Miserables,” at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) called the potential opera house designation an “excellent way to recognize [Melania Trump’s] support and commitment to promoting the arts.”

The opera house amendment was met with fierce condemnation from Trump critics, including Jack Schlossberg, Kennedy’s 32-year-old grandson.

“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers,” Schlossberg wrote in a social media post. 

“The Trump administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression,” Schlossberg said.

Trump, in an unprecedented move, overhauled the Kennedy Center’s board and named himself its chair in February, accusing it of being too “woke.”

After touring the Kennedy Center in March, Trump said it was in a state of “tremendous disrepair.”

Rep.-elect Bob Onder (R-Mo.) speaks to reporters outside the AC Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 as newly elected House membersfor the 119th session of Congress arrive for orientation.
Rep.-elect Bob Onder (R-Mo.) speaks to reporters outside the AC Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 as newly elected House membersfor the 119th session of Congress arrive for orientation.

“We’re going to fix it up, but it’s really emblematic of our country,” Trump said at the time.

The Kennedy Center opened its doors to the public in 1971. It describes its namesake Kennedy on its website as a “lifelong supporter and advocate of the arts” who “frequently steered the public discourse toward what he called ‘our contribution to the human spirit.'”

According to the institution, two months after Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, “Congress passed and President Johnson signed into law legislation renaming the National Cultural Center… as a ‘living memorial’ to Kennedy.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Rebranding César Chavez Day: A Passionate and Urgent Movement Gains Momentum Nationwide

Across the United States, from California to Minnesota, elected officials and civil…

Viral Pro-Iran Memes Challenge Trump in Online Propaganda Battle

The ongoing conflict with Iran is proving to be unprecedented in terms…

Greeneville Group Home Caregiver Faces Allegations of Abusing Disabled Resident

An employee of Support Solutions in Greeneville, Tennessee, finds herself facing charges…

Luis Robert Jr. Secures Mets’ Victory with Thrilling 3-Run Homer in 11th Against Pirates

NEW YORK – In an exhilarating showdown at Citi Field, Luis Robert…

Pope Leo XIV Honors Pope Francis’ Legacy During Holy Week’s Palm Sunday Observance

In a momentous gathering at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Leo…

Rev Up Safely: Mastering the Speed and Safety of Electric Bikes

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In a heart-stopping incident, a 14-year-old on an…

Widespread “No Kings” Demonstrations Sweep Tri-Cities on Saturday

The Tri-Cities region of Tennessee witnessed a powerful display of unity and…

Massive Heist: Over 400,000 KitKat Bars Vanish During Transport from Italy to Poland

GENEVA – In an unexpected twist, Nestlé, the Swiss-based food conglomerate, reported…

Legendary Actor James Tolkan, Known for ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Back to the Future,’ Passes Away at 94

Renowned for his portrayals of stern authority figures in the iconic films…