# 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:** 34
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/661 "2026-07-09T00:46:25Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > His administration lawyers did, and they represent him. They do what they are told or they are out of a job. So what’s the difference? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/662 "2026-07-09T02:20:06Z")
I’m not Disinfectus, but [this NBC article](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/kennedy-center-lawyers-tell-staff-remove-references-trump-signage-rcna348512) states: > Staff were told in an email from the Office of the General Counsel to “Remove any references to the ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ or ‘The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,’ and instead revert to ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ or ‘the Kennedy Center” or ‘the Center.’” The directive also applies to email signatures, letterhead, signage, brochures and website pages. > > “The Court ruled that the Board acted beyond its authority in adding President Trump’s name to the Center and gave the Center 14 days from May 29 to remove all references to the Center being named for anyone other than John F. Kennedy,” the letter obtained by NBC News states. There are many other cites saying the same thing, i.e. the lawyers told the staff to remove Trump’s name. In addition, according to [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/08/nx-s1-5886099/appeals-court-denies-president-trumps-request-to-halt-removing-his-name-from-the-kennedy-center), “…in a court filing last month, the center’s current executive director said that Trump’s name has been removed.” So, not technically his lawyers saying that, but the E.D. saying it in a legal filing to the judge, which I would argue is pretty much the same thing. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2026, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/663 "2026-07-09T02:51:42Z")
Not until the tarps come down. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/664 "2026-07-09T03:24:05Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I’m not Disinfectus, but [this NBC article](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/kennedy-center-lawyers-tell-staff-remove-references-trump-signage-rcna348512) states: Thanks for saving me the trouble. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/665 "2026-07-31T15:52:15Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > No hurry, but please by July 31 if you will. For what it’s worth, here we are, July 31 2026. I’ll take a look around, see if I see anything, see? ---
**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:** [July 31, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/666 "2026-07-31T16:09:43Z")
Too late to edit. I found a Forbes link with lots and lots of popups that says the deadline is now Aug. 20. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/667 "2026-08-02T19:36:31Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > that says the deadline is now Aug. 20. Jesus fucking christ. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/668 "2026-08-13T21:20:37Z")
The New York Times reports ([gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/arts/design/kennedy-center-closure-board-vote-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5FA.bs2T.U9L0Muxdclgc&smid=url-share)) that the board of the Kennedy Center (mostly Trump appointees) voted to add to the main sign that the center was “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.” They also voted to name the grounds of the Kennedy Center the “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” Modesty was never his strong suit. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/669 "2026-08-14T00:41:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > voted to add to the main sign that the center was “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.” Did he? I mean donate significant amounts of money? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/670 "2026-08-14T00:49:27Z")
If you object, I encourage you to contact the board of trustees to express your concerns. The main number for the center is 202-416-8000. You can also contact the chair of the board via the usual social media sites. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/671 "2026-08-14T00:58:34Z")
Okay so i checked- > **[SCOOP: How President Trump and Ric Grenell “saved the Kennedy Center”](https://washingtonreporter.news/scoop-how-president-trump-and-ric-grenell-saved-the-kennedy-center/)** > > The Trump-Grenell duo has raised hundreds of millions for the Kennedy Center, between cash infusions from Congress and from donations. > Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the legendary arts center received a much-needed infusion of $250 million from congressional Republicans, and Trump and Ambassador Ric Grenell raised “almost $23 million” in advance of the honors. So, little or no actual trump money, but encouragement, arm-twisting and etc did help out the Center. Okay, so- he gets a nice plaque. There’s his Name on the Kennedy Center, thanking him for fundraising. But not - > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > the main sign that the center was “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.” They also voted to name the grounds of the Kennedy Center the “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” Too much. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/672 "2026-08-14T01:20:34Z")
I am suspicious of any news organization that prints the words “Under president Donald Trump’s leadership”. Even if someone did raise money, where did it actually go? And what was underserved with the way the center was previously funded? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/673 "2026-08-14T01:26:04Z")
That news organization is The Washington Reporter, described by Wikipedia as “both center-right and conservative, the outlet covers both local and national political news.” So completely unbiased. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/674 "2026-08-14T01:29:41Z")
Honestly, that they began a sentence the way they did tells me all I need to know. And what renovations? Let’s see them. And were renovations actually necessary? I know that artists and performers stopped playing the venue, and that the place is pretty much closed. It’s just Trump bullshit. It continually boggles my brain that people fall for it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/675 "2026-08-14T02:25:28Z")
It’s funny that he thinks ANY of this isn’t going to be torn down on 1/21/29. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/676 "2026-08-14T02:37:46Z")
So his new marking of territory will be incised into the building rather than affixed to it, making it harder to obliterate. But obliterated it will be one day. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/677 "2026-08-14T02:46:14Z")
That’s the truth. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/678 "2026-08-14T04:55:30Z")
I was just listening to Major Garrett talking about it, and he referenced the rule that says only Congress can change the center’s name. Isn’t the defense just going to be " we didn’t _change_ the name of the building" ( the “I’m not touching you” defense)? I fear we’lll all wake up and it will have been engraved overnight. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/679 "2026-08-14T05:28:24Z")
Note: > The plaza in front of the building would be named after Trump and most of the space at the venue would be closed for two years to allow for substantial renovations…Ultimately, the board decided to close the building for two years while leaving the potential for some degree of programming to still happen in an outdoor space known as the Reach. > **[Kennedy Center votes to restore Trump's name and close for 2 years,...](https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-closure-renovations-591cc891a1c0ececf3602ed121ce4840)** > > The battle over the Kennedy Center’s future is escalating. President Donald Trump’s allies on the board voted on Thursday to add his name to the building’s facade so it would read “The John F. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248/680 "2026-08-14T12:22:50Z")
It’s weird with Trump; some things he enshittifies suddenly, like a fart in a crowded elevator. This one, it’s happening over time. Slowly shittier every day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-made-chair-of-the-kennedy-center/1014248.md?page=35)