Kennedy Family Reacts to Trump Being Added to Kennedy Center Name

Kennedy Center Name Change Controversy

• 🏛️ The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees has voted to rename the performing arts institution to include President Trump, making the new name the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
• 💬 A spokeswoman for the center stated the unanimous vote recognized the current chairman's role in saving the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction.

Kennedy Family's Response

• 🤯 Members of the Kennedy family are reportedly confused and horrified by the decision, questioning why a living president would be honored alongside a late president assassinated during his term.
• 🗣️ Maria Shriver described the move as "downright weird and obsessive" for President Trump to seek co-naming.

Political Maneuvering Behind the Vote

• 🗳️ The board's overwhelming support for the name change is attributed to President Trump's action of replacing Democratic board members with his supporters upon taking office.
• ⚖️ Former Congressman Joe Kennedy highlighted that the center's name is protected by federal law and statute, suggesting the renaming is not legally valid.
• 🚫 He emphasized that the Kennedy Center is a living legacy and not a property whose name is for auction, implying a deeper significance beyond a typical building.

Legal and Practical Implications

• 📜 The Kennedy Center was originally authorized by Congress, meaning an act of Congress would be required for an official renaming.
• 🌐 Despite the legal complexities, the Kennedy Center has already changed the name on its website, and family members anticipate the building's signage will also be altered, at least temporarily, as there is currently no immediate opposition to stop the board.