Trump’s Attempt to Rename the Kennedy Center Undermines Its Legacy

By Linda Jimenez | Tracy

Editor,

The President continues to show us his vain ego by adding his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. How did he accomplish this horrendous task? By removing the Board of Trustees to comprise a new board of Trump loyalists electing him as Board Chair.

President Kennedy represented all citizens nationwide and stood for justice, equality, and diversity. President Kennedy was a respected USA leader and world leader. Trump’s words and actions are the opposite of President Kennedy. Trump’s deplorable actions show he does not possess any of President Kennedy’s fine qualities.

Trump’s statement that his name should be included above President Kennedy’s name because he obtained money to upgrade and support the Kennedy Center is laughable. The Kennedy Center was built in 1964. Obviously, due to the age of the Center, Congress needs to provide a budget line item for Center repairs and upgrades.

Contrary to appointed Trump loyalist Richard Grenell serving as Board President, performing artists and musicians have not flocked to schedule performances as a result of renaming the Kennedy Center. Instead, there has been a backlash of cancelled performances and cancelled annual holiday performances.

On January 23, 1964, Congress approved Public Law 88-260. Public Law 88-260, Section 11 states:

“The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, designated by this Act, shall be the sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy within the city of Washington and its environs.”

Congress honored President Kennedy’s name as a fallen hero of the people. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a historical memorial landmark to President Kennedy. To change the Center’s name requires congressional approval that Trump and his hand-picked board of trustees did not obtain.

Therefore, without congressional approval, Trump’s name must be removed immediately.

Linda Jimenez

Tracy

Member of The Democratic Club of Greater Tracy