The prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC is embroiled in a significant controversy following a report that it altered its governance rules ahead of a vote to add former President Donald Trump's name to the institution.
Controversial Bylaw Revision Precedes Unanimous Vote
According to a Washington Post investigation, the Kennedy Center's board revised its bylaws in May of this year. The critical change specified that board members appointed by Congress, known as ex-officio members, would be barred from voting or counting towards a quorum. This move effectively limited voting power to trustees appointed by the sitting president.
This new rule was in place when, on 18 December, the board voted unanimously to rebrand the venue as the 'Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts'. The decision has since ignited a wave of protests and legal scrutiny, with critics alleging the bylaw change was a tactical manoeuvre to ensure the name change passed.
Legal scholar Ellen Aprill of UCLA told the Post that limiting voting rights in this way appears to breach the centre's founding charter. "Clearly the intent of the charter provisions was to entrust Kennedy Center guidance to a broad group, not just those appointed by the president," she stated.
Trump's Reshaping of the Board and Plummeting Ratings
The controversy follows a broader reshuffle of the centre's leadership. Donald Trump assumed the role of board chair in February, promptly replacing existing members with his own supporters. A key appointment was his long-time foreign policy adviser, Ric Grenell, who was installed as president of the centre. Grenell, a vocal proponent of Trump's 'America First' ideology, has previously served as ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence.
The centre lists 34 presidentially appointed board members and 23 ex-officio members. Federal law designates these ex-officio members—who include figures like the Mayor of Washington DC and the head of the Library of Congress—as trustees responsible for maintaining the centre as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
In defence of the bylaw change, Roma Daravi, the centre's vice-president for public relations, asserted it merely reflected a "longstanding precedent" that ex-officio members did not vote. She claimed the technical revisions were shared with all members and passed without objection.
The disclosure coincides with new figures showing a sharp decline in television ratings for this year's Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony, hosted by Trump himself and featuring artists like Gloria Gaynor and Kiss, attracted a record low audience of just 3.01 million viewers on CBS—a stark 25% drop from the previous year.
Growing Backlash and Legal Challenges
The decision to add Trump's name has triggered immediate and sustained backlash:
- Artists have cancelled bookings at the venue in protest.
- Members of Congress have vowed to overturn the change.
- Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty of Ohio has filed a lawsuit arguing that altering the centre's name legally requires an act of Congress.
Amid the furore, Trump took to his Truth Social network to post statements from supporters criticising the Kennedy family's support for the centre. These posts began mere hours after the Kennedy family announced the death from leukaemia of JFK's granddaughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, aged 35.
The situation leaves one of America's most iconic cultural institutions at the centre of a fierce political and legal battle, raising profound questions about governance, legacy, and the intersection of art and politics.
