The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was named in honor of President John F. Kennedy — a leader who championed the arts as a vital part of American democracy. Now, that legacy is under threat.

Republican lawmakers have introduced an amendment to rename the Opera House inside the Kennedy Center after Melania Trump. This proposal didn’t arise from any major contribution, cultural achievement, or public demand. It was slipped into a spending bill — without consultation, without consensus, and without respect for what this institution represents.

Melania Trump hasn't spearheaded any landmark arts initiatives, and her husband boycotted the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term.  

At the same time Congress considers renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump, this administration has launched sweeping cuts to federal arts funding — targeting NEA, NEH, IMLS, PBS and NPR, canceling dozens of grants, and dismantling community and cultural programs nationwide. Naming a national landmark after the First Lady amid this rollback sends precisely the wrong message about how much we value the arts.

This move also jeopardizes the Kennedy Center’s ability to raise funds. Naming rights are typically awarded to individuals or families who donate tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars — not handed out for political loyalty. Potential donors may now hesitate, seeing the venue’s name as politically unstable or subject to whoever holds power.

Congress must reject this attempt to politicize the arts. The Kennedy Center belongs to all Americans. It should remain a place that celebrates artistic excellence, not political influence.

Tell Congress: Do not approve this amendment. Leave the Kennedy Center Opera House — and its name — out of politics.

Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters