On Dec. 19, 2025, there was an unveiling of a name change at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. No, it was not as it was lawfully named after JFK’s death in 1963 pursuant to federal law, 20 United States Code, Sec.76i. It was renamed the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. What, you say, what an honor for the current president. problem is, this name change, with Trump’s name now first, is a violation of federal law and was not authorized by any act of Congress — a prerequisite for any such name change. But then we are told, but the board of that arts center, according to published, but disputed, reports, “unanimously” approved the name change. You mean the board that Trump hand picked to oust the prior members and which he took over [in dictatorial fashion] as its chair?

I mentioned the U.S. Code, above, so let me quote from it.

Section (a) In General:

“The Board shall construct for the Smithsonian Institution, with funds raised by voluntary contributions, a building to be designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the District of Columbia…”.

“The definition of “Board” is found later in this implementing statute. It is defined as “the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Board”), whose duty it shall be to maintain and administer the John F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts…a living memorial to John Fitzgerald Kennedy….”

Additionally, the federal law requires the board “assure that after December 2, 1983, no additional materials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”

As if all the above were not enough, there exists the following additional language, signed by President Lyndon Johnson after the Speaker of the House (John W. McCormick), and President Pro tempore of the Senate (Carol Hayden) at the time:

“Sec. 11. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts designated by this Act, shall be the sole national memorial the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy within the city of Washington and its environs.”

Sec. 2. In addition to the amendments made by the first section of this Act, any designation or reference to the National Cultural Center in any other law, map, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be held to designate or refer to such Center as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

According to legal scholars and experts, what Trump forced his board to do was totally illegal, as already mentioned. As well, this building was, and continues to remain, a memorial to only JFK due to his years of service in the public sector, besides his military career. It was not, and never would be, an edifice for a convicted felon who failed to serve his country due to “bone spurs” and lack of any connection to the performing arts! But we are living in a time when Trump does not believe in adhering to the rule of law in any respect, only continuously satisfying his ego and fortifying his insecurity.

We the People must stop this insane behavior before it totally subsumes our democracy. For starters, per federal law the name remains the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Trump’s name must be removed.

Miles Zaremski is a resident of the Village of Dunedin.