Kennedy Family and Artists Protest ‘Trump-Kennedy’ Rebrand

The gold lettering on the exterior of Washington D.C.’s most iconic performing arts venue was changed on Friday to read “The Trump Kennedy Center.” While the administration celebrates a “new era of prestige,” the cultural and historical community is in mourning.

The rebrand has already cost the Center its long-standing traditions. Renowned musician Chuck Redd announced the cancellation of his annual Christmas Eve jazz concert, a “Jazz Jam” tradition that has run since 2006.

“When I saw the name change on the website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel,” Redd told the Associated Press, citing the move as a departure from the institution’s historical intent.

The Kennedy family has been swift in their condemnation. Joe Kennedy III, grandnephew of JFK, took to social media to argue that the Center is a federal monument, not a commercial property.

“The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president… It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial,” Kennedy stated.

The path to this renaming began shortly after Trump took office, when he replaced several board members with loyalists. With 34 Trump appointees currently on the 57-member board, the administration successfully installed Richard Grenell as board president, paving the way for the “historic move” that critics compare to the actions of “authoritarian regimes.”

As the Center’s website logo is updated and the exterior signs are replaced, the legal battle in the courts will determine if the “Trump” name stays or goes.