# Trump is Made Chair of the Kennedy Center **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 12, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248 "2025-02-12T21:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/341 "2026-05-30T21:58:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Who is going to be the first Congresscritter to try to force a name change down Congressional throats? Robert Onder of Missouri, I think. Bills have been introduced both to name it after Trump, and to forbid that. Here is the former: [H.R. 4715](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4715/text) That stuff needs 60 Senate votes, so is a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/342 "2026-05-30T22:01:44Z")
I note that the bill not just adds Trump, but also removes Kennedy. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/343 "2026-05-30T22:04:11Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > I see a kind of tortured logic in the second „The", though: Wouldn’t „The Donald J Trump and John F Kennedy Memorial Center …" imply that _both_ these gentlemen are no more with us? I’m sure Trump has no more idea that “memorial” means a person is dead than he knows that “late” means a person is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/344 "2026-05-30T22:30:39Z")
The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the The Eye Creatures ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/345 "2026-05-31T01:36:04Z")
Yesterday Trump posted that he was turning the job of refurbishing and running the center over to Congress. Today, Congress goes unmentioned and, per the Associated Press, Trump says the Center will “[soon be closed, probably never to open again.](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/may/30/trump-vents-about-judge-who-blocked-the-kennedy-center-renovation-and-fumes-over-his-legal-setbacks/)” On its face, Trump is giving up. Wouldn’t you think that, from DJT’s POV, that – worse case scenario – TrumpWorld could steal the November 2028 election and then do whatever he wants? He is still acting like a dictator who threatens to resign in order to test loyalty. But when the likes of Stalin, Hitler, Mao, and many lessers threatened to walk away, they were sure there would be a chorus saying that they should return. Here Trump acts like he is really resigning from his position as head of the Kennedy Board. Maybe he’s depressed over having no way to win the war with Iran. He must also realize that his approval polls are, from his POV, getting worse and worse. I can’t believe Trump will continue to post like a defeated man. That would be too good to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/346 "2026-05-31T02:00:39Z")
Regarding the decision to put his name on the Kennedy Center, he said on Truth Social, “I didn’t do it, the Board did because they thought it would be good for this dying Institution, which was doing Record Low Business and, especially after COVID, only getting worse — True for other such Institutions throughout the Country, but The Trump Kennedy Center was going to be a special one. It would have fully recovered, when none others will.” I like the bit about “record low business” being done by the Kennedy Center. Places like the Kennedy Center aren’t businesses; they’re cultural establishments that can’t survive merely on ticket sales. They need donations, an endowment, corporate sponsorships and, yes, government money. I think that’s the case for any such institution anywhere in this country and probably every other country. (And when he says that it wasn’t his decision to put his name on the Kennedy Center but that of the board, who appointed the members of the board who voted for this?) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/347 "2026-05-31T02:08:23Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > But he wants to be a conductor, too! Given the dance moves we’ve seen from him, I doubt he has the sense of rhythm to master a plain 4/4 conducting pattern, let alone properly control dynamics, cutoffs, cues, dynamics, etc.. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/348 "2026-06-01T01:05:30Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > country. > > (And when he says that it wasn’t his decision to put his name on the Kennedy Center but that of the board, who appointed the members of the board who voted for this?) The same way some people believe that employees willingly laugh at their jokes and strippers really enjoy talking to them. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/349 "2026-06-01T02:21:36Z")
I must say… Every time I see this thread title I grimace at the passive voice, Would love to see it changed to: “Trump makes himself chair of the Kennedy Centre” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/350 "2026-06-01T07:29:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Who you callin’ a “business school _graduate_”? Donnie? You mean the guy who paid others to attend classes, write his papers, and take his exams? Plus he ~~got~~ bought only an undergrad degree. “Business school grad” sounds like he has an MBA. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/351 "2026-06-01T20:04:15Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Every time I see this thread title I grimace at the passive voice, > Would love to see it changed to: “Trump makes himself chair of the Kennedy Centre” Yes, that’s fair. He DID make himself Chair, no matter what b.s. he throws around about the “Honor” that the Committee supposedly bestowed upon him. (Is there anyone who doesn’t know that HE appointed that Committee??) The casual acceptance of all these verbal constructions that let Donald off the hook for the horrible things he does, is prolonging our national pain. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/352 "2026-06-01T21:24:49Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Regarding the decision to put his name on the Kennedy Center, he said on Truth Social, “I didn’t do it, the Board did because they thought it would be good for this dying Institution, which was doing Record Low Business and, especially after COVID, only getting worse — True for other such Institutions throughout the Country, but The Trump Kennedy Center was going to be a special one. It would have fully recovered, when none others will.”… “When none others will”? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/353 "2026-06-01T22:09:48Z")
I am America, and so can you! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/354 "2026-06-03T20:32:29Z")
I’ve seen a suggestion that the now-deTrumpified Center should celebrate with a June 14 concert (or even telethon to raise money to fix up whatever Donald has broken), to counter-program Donald’s _Fiesta of Fascism_. It would feature Springsteen, McCartney…people like that. Stephen Colbert could host. I suppose it’s too short notice to pull together something like that…but it would be nice to see a high-profile counter to Donald’s debacle. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/355 "2026-06-03T20:37:37Z")
That is a _great_ idea. But yes, time is very short. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/356 "2026-06-03T20:41:19Z")
I don’t think that’s a terrible idea, but I don’t think anyone should be raising money to fix something he wrecked until after he’s out of office (and democrat is in office). Especially if the fund raiser is happening at or sponsored by the place in question. If they throw a concert and raise millions of dollars, they’re going to spend the next few years in court either fighting off Trump who’s going to attempt to take it or they’re going to spend the next few years in court trying to get the money back from him after he takes it. Having said that, I could see having a concert to benefit the Kennedy Center now, but doing it privately. That is, set up a privately owned business (or non profit or charity or whatever) owned by people not affiliated with the Kennedy Center or the government and do it at a privately owned venue. Then put the money in a trust or bank account or something with promise that it’ll go to restoring the Kennedy Center at some specific point in the future (ie after the next democratic president is elected). Basically, if someone wants to raise money to restore the place, IMO, they need to make sure they can protect the money until it can be used for it’s intended purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/357 "2026-06-03T21:06:24Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I don’t think anyone should be raising money to fix something he wrecked until after he’s out of office (and democrat is in office). Yes, those are all good points, and if it were to be done earlier, it should indeed be by a private entity (with good lawyers)). And yes, @Elendil_s_Heir --the time is short. I guess the suggestion getting some attention is an indicator of how _deeply_ Donald’s attempts to take over Flag Day are resented. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/358 "2026-06-03T21:09:06Z")
A little birdie told me that 1.776 billion just got freed up. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/359 "2026-06-03T21:10:47Z")
I think you mean a big turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/360 "2026-06-03T21:21:03Z")
The one as big as me? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248.md?page=19)