A Republican-led push to rename part of the Kennedy Center in honor of former First Lady Melania Trump is drawing sharp criticism—and may violate federal law.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Bob Onder of Missouri as part of the “Make America Great Again Act,” seeks to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump.
A broader plan has also emerged to rename the entire complex the “Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts.” The initiative is currently included in a larger Interior Department funding bill and must pass both chambers of Congress to become law.
The Kennedy Center, built in 1971, was named in honor of President John F. Kennedy, a champion of the arts who was assassinated in 1963. The idea of replacing Kennedy’s name with that of the Trumps has sparked backlash from critics on both sides of the political aisle, including Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who publicly questioned the Trumps’ contributions to American arts and culture.
President Trump, who became chairman of the Kennedy Center following his inauguration, faced criticism early in his term for removing several board members. Now, the suggestion of renaming the venue for his wife has reignited concerns—not just about precedent or public opinion, but legality.
According to a report by NBC News, a federal statute passed in 1983 may block the renaming effort entirely. The law explicitly prohibits the addition of new memorials or plaques in the Kennedy Center’s public areas, stating: “After December 2, 1983, no additional memorials or plaques like memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
Legal experts and former board members note that the only exception to this was the naming of the Eisenhower Theater, honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who originally authorized the center’s construction in 1958. While the project languished for years, it was revived under President Kennedy, leading to the eventual naming of the center after him posthumously.
Democratic lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the proposed name changes. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, the lead Democrat on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, stressed that any attempt to rename parts of the Kennedy Center would require full congressional approval. A spokesperson for Pingree added that the effort is unlikely to succeed, warning that any unilateral move by Trump allies would lack legal standing and potentially ignite a constitutional court fight.
Adding to the controversy, Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho—who supported the proposal—admitted that neither Melania Trump nor the former president were initially aware of the effort. He noted, however, that both reached out afterward to express gratitude.
With both legal constraints and political resistance mounting, the proposal to honor Melania Trump by renaming a key piece of America’s cultural heritage appears unlikely to move forward.