Two controversial legislative moves are currently on the table, starting with the renaming of one of America’s most iconic cultural institutions. First came the proposal to rename the Kennedy Center’s Opera House after First Lady Melania Trump. Now, GOP Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) is attempting to rename the entire John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in honor of former President Donald Trump.
The reaction from the Kennedy family has entered the discussion. “This is insane,” wrote Maria Shriver on social media. “It makes my blood boil. It’s so ridiculous, so petty, so small-minded. Truly, what is this about? It’s always about something. ‘Let’s get rid of the Rose Garden. Let’s rename the Kennedy Center.’ What’s next?”
© Tom WilliamsShriver, the niece of President John F. Kennedy and former First Lady of California, didn't hold back in her critique. The daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver, she’s also a longtime advocate for women’s health. Her public statement has put a spotlight on what some critics call a politically motivated campaign to rebrand historic landmarks with Trump’s name.
© Anna MoneymakerJust last week, House Republicans approved an amendment to a spending bill that would designate the Kennedy Center’s Opera House as the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.” Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) introduced the amendment, which passed the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 33–25.
© Win McNameeHe defended the proposal by calling Trump “a ubiquitous symbol of American exceptionalism in the arts, entertainment, and popular culture at large.” But the Kennedy family is sharing their thoughts. Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s only grandson, wrote on Instagram: “Plain reading of the statute makes clear — You can’t do that.”
© PoolSchlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy, was referring to a 1983 federal law that prohibits additional memorials or plaques within the public areas of the Kennedy Center without specific legislative action.
© Andrew HarnikDemocrats have pointed to that statute to argue that the renaming efforts are legally baseless. “Legally, they can't just slap her name on it without congressional action,” said a spokesperson for Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) to NBC News.
“If Republicans can't pass their budget — which they usually can't — the Melania Trump renaming provision dies. The only real wildcard is whether Trump or his allies ignore the law entirely and try to do it unilaterally. But that would have no legal basis — and would almost certainly trigger a court fight.”
