When President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted to change the name of the institution to the Trump Kennedy Center, several members of the Kennedy family objected, characterizing the arts center as a national memorial for President Kennedy, akin to the Lincoln Memorial.
Former Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), a grandnephew of President Kennedy, wrote: “The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”
Maria Shriver, a niece of President Kennedy, wrote: “It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”
Richard Grenell, President of the Kennedy Center, replied to Shriver: “The place was literally falling apart and you didn’t help – at all. Where you been, Maria? You were completely silent while the building crumbled. Donald Trump had to step in and save it because you didn’t help. You should thank him.”
The place was literally falling apart and you didn’t help – at all.
Where you been, Maria? You were completely silent while the building crumbled.
Donald Trump had to step in and save it because you didn’t help.
You should thank him. https://t.co/ngBPNkrf4w
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 18, 2025
Note: According to the official website, the 14 new Kennedy Center Board of Trustee members, including Trump, are:
- President Trump (Board Chair)
- White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
- White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s wife Allison Lutnick
- Lynda Lomangino, wife of the “trash kingpin” of Florida, Anthony Lomangino
- Mindy Levine, wife of New York Yankees president Randy Levine
- Second Lady Usha Vance
- Pamela Gross, former CNN editorial director and former advisor to First Lady Melania Trump
- John Falconetti, chairman of the Drummond Press
- Cheri Summerall, widow of NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall
- U.S. ambassador to India Sergio Gor
- Emilia May Fanjul, a donor of the White House’s East Wing demolition and new ballroom Patricia Duggan, ex-wife of billionaire biopharmaceutical exec Robert Duggan
- Dana Blumberg, wife of NFL New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), a board member who says she was on the call during the vote but unable to voice her objection because she was muted, contends that the vote to change the name was not legitimately unanimous. The Congresswoman added: “Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship.”
For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship. https://t.co/D1zGV7xiWV pic.twitter.com/npNvSIy6sV
— Rep. Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) December 18, 2025