Donald Trump began leaving his mark on the Kennedy Center before his name ever graced the building’s exterior facade.
His sweeping changes to Washington, D.C., include gilded monuments, a deteriorating reflecting pool, and a grandiose White House reimagining, among other vanity projects.
But his Kennedy Center takeover may prove the most controversial, forcing the institution to move its most prestigious event.
The hijacking of the slain president John F. Kennedy’s living memorial was depicted as an overdue renovation. Fallen chunks of the grand foyer’s ceiling was used as proof to defend Trump’s agenda.
It devolved into Trump, 80, demanding recognition when he tacked on “Donald J. Trump” to the center’s name.
The renaming has been a point of contention throughout ongoing court injunctions.
His team has demanded “Donald J. Trump” be reinstalled. They also want other references to him throughout the campus, ensuring his legacy remains intertwined with the Democratic politician.
An X user ranted, “It is sick what this man and his band of psychos are doing. He wanted to tie himself to Kennedy’s name so he could feel loved and he’s willing to destroy this beautiful monument dedicated to a beloved POTUS just bc he got slapped down. It’s pathetic and gross.”
That single act appeared to mark the start of the performing arts complex’s decline. The building now stands shuttered amid a looming bankruptcy.
The annual Kennedy Center Honors will leave the venue for the first time. The star-studded gala will take place at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7.
Meanwhile, the Center remains locked for a proposed two-year renovation. The board’s Trump-aligned leaders argue they need his fundraising help — and his name on the building.
“Yeah I’m sure it’s all about Evil Orange Man wanting his name on it and not the fact they have been pocketing the money by neglecting building maintenance and it’s unsafe for people to be in,” one X user wrote.
Another said, “Just to stroke someone’s ego, we are doing this crazy dance. What a way to honor the recipients.”
Last year’s Kennedy Center Honors sparked controversy over Debbie Winans’s performance and his napping showcase.
During the event, Trump also gave Sylvester Stallone a gold medal, then insulted the “Rocky” star in front of attendees. He also honored George Strait, KISS and singer Gloria Gaynor, whose hair Trump kissed during their greeting.
In another development, a sale of more items has begun. Slippedisc confirmed that the closed Kennedy Center is moving its Steinway pianos to its Georgetown showroom, where it may sell them. The 2026 Kennedy Center Honors recipients have yet to be announced.
But behind closed doors, though, Trump had already begun erasing years of culture and Kennedy honors.
A bombshell report by The New York Times revealed emails and insider intel detailing Trump and his allies’ plan to transform the venue.
For starters, Trump and his cronies have been replacing pieces of the art collection.
“You can definitely start sending stuff back to the countries who donated it now. Figure out everything you don’t want and just send it back A.S.A.P.,” Richard Grenell, the center’s director, told Josef Palermo, the center’s then-first-ever visual arts curator, in October 2025.
A “de-accession” memo revealed the changes “may include disposal via the following means: return to country of origin, transfer or exchange with another institution, public sale or destruction.”
A critic quipped, “Trump wanted to sell the art inside?! I wonder whose bank account the money would have went to?”
This month, workers dismantled the 24-foot “Blue” sculpture outside the main building without public notice. Former Kennedy Center chairman David Rubenstein, whom Trump replaced, bought it for more than $2 million after its removal.
Officials said the removals would eliminate “outdated or inappropriate artworks” and replace them with pieces that reflect “shared American Values.”
A naysayer commented, “That’s because Trump is planning on stripping all the good stuff for his ballroom.”
The African Lounge lost 15 pieces before officials closed it to the public and hung gold-leaf portraits of Trump, Elon Musk and RFK Jr.
Speculation that Trump planned to demolish the Kennedy Center grew after cameras caught him reviewing proposed destruction plans aboard Air Force One.
Protesters rallied around the center the weekend of Sept. 19-20, demanding Trump keep his “Hands Off the Arts.”
🔴 Kennedy Center Honors moves to Capital One Arena amid Trump renovation dispute
— NewsTongue (@NewsTongueX) October 2, 2026
The Kennedy Center's 2025 Honors gala will take place Dec. 7 at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., instead of the Kennedy Center's main building, which is currently closed.
President… pic.twitter.com/VYljgO0iNx
