The Kennedy Center is now the Trump Kennedy Center, the White House says Luck

Congress named the center after President John F. Kennedy in 1964, after his assassination. Donald A. Ritchie, who served as Senate historian from 2009-2015, said that since Congress was the first to appoint the center, it would be up to Congress to “change the law.”

Richie said that while Trump and others could “informally” refer to the center by a different name, they could not do so in a way “that would (legally) stick.

But the board didn’t wait for that debate to play out and immediately rebranded its website to reflect the new name.

House Democratic Speaker Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that legislative action was needed “and we’re going to clear it up.” The New York Democrat is an ex officio member of the board because of his position in Congress.

Trump has been teasing the name change for some time

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the vote on social media, crediting it to “the incredible job President Trump has done over the last year to save the building. Not only in terms of its renovation, but also financially and its reputation.”

Trump, a Republican who chairs the board, said at the White House that he was “surprised” and “honored” by the vote.

“The committee is a very respected committee, the most distinguished people in the country, and I was surprised and honored by that,” he said.

Trump has already referred to the center as the “Trump Kennedy Center.” Asked on Dec. 7 while walking the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors program whether he would rename the venue after himself, Trump said that decision would be up to the board of trustees.

Earlier this month, Trump spoke of a “big event” taking place at the “Trump Kennedy Center,” before saying, “Sorry, at the Kennedy Center,” as his audience laughed. He was referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, which he attended.

The name change will not sit well with some members of the Kennedy family.

Maria Shriver, niece of John F. Kennedy, referred to legislation introduced in Congress to rename the Kennedy Center as the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts as “insane” in a social media post in July.

“It makes my blood boil. It’s so ridiculous, so petty, so small-minded,” she wrote. “Really, what’s this about? It’s always about something. ‘Let’s get rid of the Rose Garden. Let’s rename it the Kennedy Center.’ What’s next?”

Trump turned the Kennedy-era White House Rose Garden into a terrace earlier this year by removing the lawn and laying pavers.

Another member of the Kennedy family, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serves in Trump’s cabinet as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump showed scant interest in the Kennedy Center during his first term as president, but since returning to office in January he has replaced board members appointed by Democratic presidents with some of his most ardent supporters, who then elected him chairman of the board.

He also criticized the center’s programming and its physical appearance, promising to overhaul both.

Trump secured more than $250 million from the Republican-controlled Congress to renovate the building.

He attended the opening night of the musical “Les Misérables” and served as host of the Kennedy Center Honors program last week after missing a performance during his first term as president. The awards program is scheduled to air on CBS and Paramount+ on December 23.

Subscription package sales are said to have fallen since Trump took over the center, and several concert productions, including “Hamilton,” have canceled scheduled performances there. Rows upon rows of empty seats were seen in the Concert Hall during a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra.

Some artists, including actor Issa Rae and musician Rhiannon Giddens, canceled scheduled performances, and Kennedy Center consultants including musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned.

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AP writer Hillel Italy contributed to this story from New York.