Joe Kennedy III: Trump’s Efforts to Rename the Kennedy Center Won’t Succeed

Joe Kennedy III (L) and President Donald Trump (R).
Credit:

Brian Lawless/Pool/Getty; Anna Moneymaker/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Joe Kennedy III stated that renaming the Kennedy Center to the “Trump Kennedy Center” is prohibited by federal law.
• This declaration responded to claims by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who stated that the Kennedy Center board had “unanimously” voted to rename the institution.
• Kennedy’s statement aligns with previous comments by his second cousin, Jack Schlossberg, who emphasized that “law prohibits renaming the Kennedy Center.”

In a statement that reverberates through political circles, Joe Kennedy III has challenged the proposed renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, dedicated in 1964 as a “living memorial” to JFK. His remarks come after Leavitt’s announcement on December 18 regarding the board’s alleged unanimous vote to rebrand the center.

Joe Kennedy, 45, responded on social media, asserting, “The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law.” He elaborated, “It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”

This sentiment mirrors earlier statements from his second cousin, Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of JFK. Schlossberg pointed out that renaming the center would infringe federal law governing the arts organization. He recently shared a federal statute proclaiming that as of December 2, 1983, “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.”

Schlossberg, 32, commented, “Plain reading of the statute makes clear — YOU CAN’T DO THAT,” reiterating the legal constraints surrounding such a rename.

In a follow-up statement, Schlossberg contradicted Leavitt’s claim of a unanimous decision by stating on social media, “Microphones were muted and the board meeting and vote NOT unanimous.” He also linked his congressional campaign to these events, expressing that “our campaign represents everything Trump can’t stand or defeat.”

Jack Schlossberg (L) and President Donald Trump (R).

JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Additionally, Representative Joyce Beatty, a Kennedy Center board member, called into question the legitimacy of the board’s vote. In a video posted after Leavitt’s announcement, she stated, “I was on that call, and as I tried to push my button to voice my concern… I was muted.” She further asserted that participants were not allowed to voice their opinions, contradicting the claims of unanimous support.

“I think it’s important for us to know that this is just another attempt to evade the law and not let the people have a say,” Beatty added.

Amid these controversies, former President Trump has frequently expressed intentions to influence the Kennedy Center, positioning himself as its chairman and promising to alter its leadership to align with his vision. Earlier initiatives to rename the center, including Rep. Bob Onder’s proposed “Make Entertainment Great Again Act,” ultimately did not progress into law.

In the months leading up to the current discussions, Trump even hinted at renaming the center in social media posts, drawing attention to his ongoing interest in the institution.