No Trump name should appear above the Kennedy Center
By Christine Ledbetter / Chicago Tribune
When the Kennedy Center opened in 1971, the world premiere of Leonard Bernsteins Mass, a theater piece for singers, dancers and musicians, was performed in its Opera House. Dignitaries included Rose Kennedy, Eunice Shriver, Sen. Edward Kennedy and his wife, Joan, along with artists such as Aaron Copland, Helen Hayes and Isaac Stern.
It was a glittering event that would signal the beginning of the monumental importance of the nations cultural center for the next 50-plus years.
Founding Chairman Roger L. Stevens said the Kennedy Center more than any predecessor lent dignity to the role of the arts and its place in society.
-snip-
The Kennedy Center should not be treated like a hotel with the Trump name plastered all over it. Statements about the first couples contributions to the arts are simply not true. Indeed, the Trump administrations sweeping cuts to federal arts agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts have caused states to scramble for funds, including 192 organizations in Illinois.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-no-trump-name-should-appear-above-the-kennedy-center/

bucolic_frolic
(52,320 posts)Norrrm
(2,933 posts)msongs
(72,343 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(169,542 posts)The president found time to lead the Kennedy Center, scrutinize honorees, agree to host its awards ceremony and approve an honor for one of his pals.
Link to tweet
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-kennedy-center-honors-host-ceremony-stallone-rcna224819
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he would host this years Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, his latest move to revamp the Washington, D.C., cultural institution in his image. Its going to be a big evening. Ive been asked to host, he said Wednesday as he was announcing this years Kennedy Center honorees.
.....The president also suggested that hes inclined to use his role as chair to give himself a Kennedy Center Honor.
Trump: âI said, to hell with it. I'll become chairman. I'll give myself an honorâ¦Next year, we'll honor Trump.â
— The Bulwark (@thebulwark.com) 2025-08-13T16:36:07.864Z
But while it was unclear whether this was intended to be funny, just as notable was the way in which Trump talked about his role at the cultural institution. To hear the Republican tell it, he has maintained a hands-on role, personally rejecting prospective Kennedy Center honorees whom he considered wokesters.
Trump says that all of the choices for Kennedy honorees "came through me" and adds that he turned down "some wokesters"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-08-13T16:16:51.144Z
.....So to review, the sitting American president, who presumably has a day job that keeps him rather busy, has found time to lead the Kennedy Center, personally scrutinize prospective honorees, agree to host the centers upcoming awards ceremony and approve an honor for one of his pals.
We took over the Kennedy Center, Trump boasted in February. Evidently, that was true.