House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee passed a motion this week to rename one of the main theaters at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after former First Lady Melania Trump. The proposal seeks to designate the center’s second-largest venue as the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.”
Proposal Details
The amendment was included in the annual spending bill for the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Kennedy Center’s funding.
It also grants President Donald Trump significant control over appointments to the Kennedy Center’s board and provides increased funding for its operations.
The measure passed in committee but faces potential hurdles in the Senate, where 60 votes would be required for full approval.
Dems Response
Democrats criticized the move as a politically motivated effort lacking public consensus.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) said the proposal was “outrageous” and “divisive,” arguing it could lead to renaming the entire Kennedy Center in Trump’s favor.
“There’s no public consensus around this. It also leads me to wonder, does the president plan to rename the whole Kennedy Center after himself?”
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, voiced strong opposition, saying the move contradicts the Kennedy legacy of promoting civil rights and artistic expression.
“The Trump administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression.”
Next Steps
The full bill will need to pass both the House and Senate. While Republicans hold a majority in the House, the Senate filibuster threshold could allow Democrats to remove the naming provision before final passage.
