Maria Shriver, a prominent member of the Kennedy family, has strongly condemned a Republican-backed bill seeking to rename the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in honor of President Donald Trump. The proposal, introduced in July by Missouri Republican state Senator Bob Onder, has sparked outrage from Shriver and others who view it as an overtly political and disrespectful gesture.
“This is insane,” Shriver stated during a recent interview, visibly frustrated by the legislation. “It makes my blood boil. It’s so ridiculous, so petty, so small-minded.” Shriver, 69, is the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver, and the niece of President John F. Kennedy, for whom the Center was named in 1964.
Onder’s bill proposes renaming the cultural landmark to the “Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts,” replacing the name of the 35th President with that of the 45th. He justified the move by praising Trump’s influence in American life, stating, “I cannot think of a more ubiquitous symbol of American exceptionalism in the arts, entertainment, and popular culture at large than President Trump.”
Shriver, who has long spoken out on issues of civility in politics and public discourse, questioned the motivations behind the bill. “Truly, what is this about? It’s always about something,” she said, suggesting the move is part of a broader effort to erase the legacy of the Kennedy family. “Let’s get rid of the Rose Garden. Let’s rename the Kennedy Center,” she said sarcastically, before asking, “What’s next?”
Her comments referenced another recent controversy in which Trump expressed his desire to partially pave over the historic White House Rose Garden—an area redesigned under the Kennedy administration—in order to install a patio similar to the one at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The push to rebrand the Kennedy Center comes on the heels of an earlier House GOP proposal to rename part of the facility the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House,” recognizing what Republicans described as her “support and commitment to promoting the arts.” That amendment, passed by the House Appropriations Committee, also stirred criticism from arts and culture advocates.
Adding to the contentious atmosphere, Trump in February removed the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and installed himself as chair, a move that drew sharp rebukes from political observers who accused him of politicizing a nonpartisan cultural institution. Non-partisan, really?
During a March visit to the Center, Trump criticized it as being too “woke” and pledged to “fix it up,” although he did not elaborate on what changes he would implement.
The Kennedy Center, located in Washington, D.C., was established as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, a champion of the arts who believed in the power of culture to unite and inspire Americans. Since its opening in 1971, it has stood as a cornerstone of U.S. artistic and cultural expression.
Across the country, libraries, schools, and museums have increasingly found themselves at the center of partisan battles. In recent months, several states have passed legislation influencing how public institutions handle topics like race, gender, and history, reflecting a nationwide clash over national identity and legacy.
