Was Kennedy Center renamed after Trump? Yes, that and more. See a list
- - Was Kennedy Center renamed after Trump? Yes, that and more. See a list
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAYDecember 31, 2025 at 12:02 AM
0
Another group backed out of its performance at the Trump-Kennedy Center after the institution was renamed.
On Dec. 29, The Cookers jazz band announced it would not perform on New Year's Eve, saying the decision "has come together very quickly." Chuck Redd, a musician who has led a Christmas Eve jazz concert at the center since 2006, called off the show when he saw the name change happening, he told CNN. New York dance company Doug Varone and Dancers announced it would not move forward with its April 2026 show, saying in a social media post, "we can no longer permit ourselves nor ask our audiences to step inside this once great institution," following the renaming.
The performing arts center in Washington, D.C., is just one thing that has been renamed after President Donald Trump or had his image added to it. Here is what else:
More: Jazz band cancels New Year's Eve performance at Trump-Kennedy Center with 2 days' notice
to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AtdUkPtjbaK_477exikEww--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0b1c241852f93160c49ebc7722807365 class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AtdUkPtjbaK_477exikEww--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0b1c241852f93160c49ebc7722807365 class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1FrEJoSV0tqsptzGieGGQQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0ad6c938f929e3926dcfeb3cc2160d83 class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1FrEJoSV0tqsptzGieGGQQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0ad6c938f929e3926dcfeb3cc2160d83 class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1YmVbU2l7JGxUfoD2eYncw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5e3924789ff6f0ae598e972be28f92c2 class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1YmVbU2l7JGxUfoD2eYncw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5e3924789ff6f0ae598e972be28f92c2 class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/x8I3UaWcMeG8Ldz24OlqyA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/be2e1cdbc589282f9c7acfe67acd1ea0 class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/x8I3UaWcMeG8Ldz24OlqyA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/be2e1cdbc589282f9c7acfe67acd1ea0 class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/SXQ2aKDe4SX8_wj4QvjHyg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0454e328622a39000a7fbe66b196ddfd class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/SXQ2aKDe4SX8_wj4QvjHyg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0454e328622a39000a7fbe66b196ddfd class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8cWmc6jTaEC4m6psjF__0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a156437df21f789aedb2f11dfd1314d5 class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8cWmc6jTaEC4m6psjF__0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a156437df21f789aedb2f11dfd1314d5 class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DnufNB8MjYV8Un7ErVuE6w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6d3d0c1a104b46a8f3814f5c6f0899ab class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DnufNB8MjYV8Un7ErVuE6w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6d3d0c1a104b46a8f3814f5c6f0899ab class=caas-img>Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IE.UKXbrkLf_eMaiahM9YA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/454c0ad64752d787d2b46505c340d4d0 class=caas-img data-headline="John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change" data-caption="
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
">Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IE.UKXbrkLf_eMaiahM9YA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/454c0ad64752d787d2b46505c340d4d0 class=caas-img>
1 / 8John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change
Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
Did Trump rename the Kennedy Center?
Yes, the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, which Trump chairs and consists mostly of members handpicked by Trump, voted to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the Trump-Kennedy Center on Dec. 18.
Signage on the building installed the next day shows its full name: "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
However, the law passed in 1964 to create the building did not grant the board authority to change its name.
More: Golden Age at Mar-a-Lago: Inside look at Trump's years in the Palm Beaches
Trump may also be honored in myriad other ways
The U.S. government has also put Trump's name and picture on these other things:
The Treasury Department in October announced it was considering a commemorative $1 coin bearing Trump’s face as part of its coins to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Federal law prohibits putting a living person on U.S. currency.
Some of the National Park Service's 2026 annual "America the Beautiful" pass designs bear Trump's portrait next to George Washington's, but an environmental group has sued to stop it.
The Trump administration renamed the U.S. Institute of Peace after Trump. The State Department posted a picture on Dec. 3 showing the building with "Donald J. Trump" in silver lettering above the engraved "United States Institute of Peace."
Trump announced on Dec. 22 the construction of two new "Trump-class" battleships that would be the first in a "Golden Fleet" of Navy ships.
Trump accounts - As part of the Republicans' tax plan passed in July, babies born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive a $1,000 contribution to a savings account that will grow with the stock market. The program was once known as the "MAGA accounts" but was renamed to "Trump accounts" during the legislative process.
A four-mile stretch of road between the Palm Beach International Airport and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida has been ceremonially renamed as “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard."
Republican lawmakers have proposed numerous bills and resolutions that would honor Trump or feature his image in recent years:
Washington, D.C., airport - Rep. Addison McDowell, R-North Carolina, introduced legislation in January to rename Washington Dulles International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport. Though it has not been brought to a vote, Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Dec. 2 they are planning to overhaul and update the airport.
Washington, D.C., train - Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, in May introduced the "Make Autorail Great Again Act," which would rename the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to the "Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access" (WMAGA) and the Metrorail as the "Trump Train." It was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Trump on Mount Rushmore - Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, introduced a bill in January proposing to carve Trump into Mount Rushmore. The bill has not moved past the House Committee on Natural Resources.
$100 bills - In March, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, introduced the Golden Age Act of 2025, which would require $100 bills to feature a picture of Trump on their face. The $100 bill currently features Benjamin Franklin. It was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, Davis Winkie, Amanda Lee Myers, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Mike Snider, Marc Ramirez, Andrew Marra, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X (Twitter), Bluesky and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Trump rename the Kennedy Center after himself? Yes, that and more.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
