House Republicans quietly advanced a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House in honor of first lady Melania Trump.
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee voted 33-25 along party lines to approve an amendment that would make most of the Kennedy Center’s federal funding contingent on the name change to the Melania Trump Opera House.
Highlights
- House Republicans advanced a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after first lady Melania Trump via a 33-25 party-line vote.
- The amendment would tie most federal funding for the Kennedy Center to the name change, pending further legislative approval.
- The Kennedy Center faces financial struggles with a 36% drop in subscriptions and a 50% fall in single-ticket sales amid boycotts and protests.
House Republicans advanced a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House
Image credits: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
The measure was introduced by Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.
“Naming the Opera House at the Kennedy Center after [Melania Trump] is an excellent way to recognize the first lady’s appreciation for the arts,” Simpson declared after lawmakers approved the amendment.
“I am proud to honor her support and commitment in promoting the arts and humanities.”
The change is not final: any legislation would have to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The move comes months after Trump took personal control of the Kennedy Center, naming himself chairman in February and replacing much of its leadership.
Many of those ousted had been appointed during the Biden administration.
Trump replaced them with several political allies, such as former U.S. ambassador Richard Grenell, White House aides Susie Wiles and Dan Scavino, as well as second lady Usha Vance.
Historically, the Kennedy Center’s board has maintained a bipartisan balance.
Image credits: Kennedy Center
While Trump did not attend the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors awards during this first term, he now seems to have a penchant for the arts.
Last February, in a social media post about the center’s programming, he said: “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST” — a move that has since worried many.
Many Democrats on the committee opposed the amendment.
“It’s just another assault in this whole lineup of the president taking control of the Kennedy Center,” Rep. Chellie Pingree told The New York Times.
“It seems outrageous to me. There’s no public consensus around this. It also leads me to wonder, does the president plan to rename the whole Kennedy Center after himself?”
Traditionally, performing arts centers name venues in recognition of major financial contributions, usually exceeding $100 million.
The renaming debate comes amid significant financial strain for the Kennedy Center.
According to data obtained by The Washington Post, subscription sales have dropped 36% compared to last year, translating to a $1.6 million decline. Single-ticket sales fell by 50% in April and May, The New York Times reported.
“Ticket buyers, subscribers, and donors have spoken with their wallets,” a staffer told The Washington Post. “Not against a Republican being in charge, but against the hostile takeover of their performing arts center.”
Some artists have also boycotted the institution in response to Trump’s intervention.
Several performers reportedly refused to appear during the opening night of Les Misérables in June, when Trump and the first lady attended.
Donald and Melania Trump were met with cheers and boos at the premiere of ‘Les Misérables’ in June
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Other scheduled productions, including Hamilton, Fellow Travelers, and Eureka Day, were canceled in protest.
The couple was also met with a mix of boos and cheers as they arrived at the Kennedy Center for the Les Mis premiere.
Seated just below the presidential box were four drag queens, who received applause from the audience.
Trump had recently vowed to ban drag shows at the center, calling them “woke.”
The Kennedy Center Opera House, with over 2,300 seats, is the second-largest theater at the performing arts center, and the venue of the Kennedy Center Honors.
Trump signed his One Big Beautiful Bill Act earlier this month. Amid its sweeping tax cuts was an allocation of over $250 million to the Kennedy Center, roughly six times the amount it usually receives from the government.