Donald Trump Signals Move To Rebrand Kennedy Center With His Own Name: “Maybe In A Week Or So”
Donald Trump made a much-teased announcement from the Oval Office on Friday, saying the FIFA World Cup draw will take place at the Kennedy Center on December 5.
But he also signaled his desire to put his own name on the arts institution.
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“On December 5 of this year, the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place at the Kennedy Center,” Trump said. “Some people refer to it as the ‘Trump Kennedy Center,’ but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet. Maybe in a week or so.”
Since taking office, Trump has taken an intense interest in the Kennedy Center, making his fourth visit to the institution on Friday to survey contractor plans to renovate the complex. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s signature piece of legislation, included $257 million to upgrade the facility.
Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) last month introduced legislation to rename the Kennedy Center as the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts. But a 1983 law specifies that “no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
The World Cup announcement will take place two days before the annual Kennedy Center Honors, with this year’s recipients George Strait, KISS, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford. Trump has said that he had a “98%” influence on the selection of the recipients. Just weeks after taking office, Trump ousted Joe Biden’s appointees to the Kennedy Center board, ensuring that he would be named its chairman, a first for a POTUS.
At the Oval Office announcement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino brought the gold World Cup trophy, telling Trump, “Presidents of countries and winners can touch it, because this is for winners only. And since you are a winner, you can, as well touch it.”
“Can I keep it?” Trump said, noting that it would fit in with his Oval Office gilt-laden decor. Infantino said that they do have to give it to the next winner.
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