They are in the process of adding Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center, not simply renaming it away from Kennedy, and the move is already being challenged politically and legally.

What’s actually happening

  • The Kennedy Center’s Trump‑appointed board voted in December 2025 to change the official name to something like “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” (often shortened in coverage to “Trump‑Kennedy Center”).
  • New signage and branding with Trump’s name have reportedly started to appear on or around the building and in some official materials.

So in everyday terms, yes: they have voted to rename it by adding Trump’s name, but JFK’s name is still included in the new version.

Is the renaming actually legal?

  • The Kennedy Center was created by a 1964 law as a “living memorial” to John F. Kennedy, and legal experts note that changing its official name requires an act of Congress, not just a board vote.
  • A member of Congress who sits on the board has already gone to court arguing that the board exceeded its authority and that the renaming is invalid without congressional approval.

So there is a real chance that courts or Congress could block, alter, or slow down this name change.

How artists and the public are reacting

  • Multiple artists and ensembles have announced cancellations of their upcoming performances, explicitly citing the addition of Trump’s name and what they see as a politicization of the institution.
  • Polling cited in one report shows very low public support for the renaming, with under one‑fifth of respondents in favor.

This has turned what would normally be a sleepy arts‑institution governance issue into a full‑on cultural and political flashpoint.

What this means for your question

  • If you’re asking “are they renaming the Kennedy Center?”:
    • Yes, the board has voted to rename it to include Trump’s name and has begun implementing that branding.
* **No, it’s not settled law yet** —the original statute still names it for Kennedy alone, and legal/political fights over whether the new name can stand are underway.

In short: the renaming move is real and already visible, but whether “Trump‑Kennedy Center” (or similar) sticks in the long run depends on Congress and the courts.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.