[Report by Li Ziyu] According to reports from NBC and other American media, Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives proposed on the 22nd local time in the United States to rename the opera hall at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., using the name of “First Lady” Melania Trump. In response, Democratic Representatives explicitly expressed opposition, viewing the Republican move as a “veiled attempt to meddle.”
NBC reported that the Republican members of the House of Representatives included this special clause proposed by Iowa Republican Congressman Mike Simpson into an appropriations bill for FY2026, which would provide funding to the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies. The House Appropriations Committee adopted the clause with a vote of 33 in favor and 25 against, incorporating it as part of an amendment to the bill. The committee then passed the amendment with a vote of 33 in favor and 28 against. The bill is set to be voted on by the full House of Representatives.
NBC quoted Mike Simpson saying, “‘First Lady’ Melania Trump serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Board at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. ‘Naming a theater after her is an excellent way to honor her love for art.'” Simpson’s spokesperson, Lekci Hammer, stated in an interview that President Trump did not request the Republican proposal to rename the opera hall.
The Republican proposal quickly sparked dissatisfaction among Democratic lawmakers. Democratic Representative Cheryl Pegues expressed surprise at the inclusion of the clause regarding the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the related bill during her vote on the day of February 22, clearly opposing it. Pegues said, “Republicans have sneakily inserted some controversial content, namely renaming parts of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with the name of one family member of this administration.” She emphasized that any renaming of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts would require congressional approval.
NBC commented that the possibility of the clause becoming law is slim. Although the overall appropriations bill might pass in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, it faces tough challenges in the Senate, as government appropriations bills need Democratic support to pass in the Senate. However, if the clause eventually becomes law, it would further expand Trump’s control over this cultural institution.
The White House has yet to respond to the above news.
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is one of the most renowned art centers in Washington, D.C. According to its official website, the center hosts more than 2,200 performances and exhibitions annually, welcoming over 2 million visitors. On February 7th this year, Trump announced on his social media platform that he would immediately fire several members of the board of directors at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and appoint himself as its chairman.