In a bold push to redefine cultural institutions long dominated by left-leaning elites, a House Republican has now reportedly introduced legislation to rename one of Washington’s most iconic venues: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.), would officially redesignate the landmark as the “Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts,” in recognition of the 45th president’s lasting impact on American culture and the arts.
Onder, a staunch Trump ally, said in a statement that the legislation — named the Make Entertainment Great Again Act (MEGA) — reflects the “ubiquitous symbol of American exceptionalism” embodied by President Trump. “President Trump is a patron of the arts and a staple of the pop-culture landscape,” Onder said.
The bill represents a growing movement among conservatives to challenge the cultural stronghold of legacy Democratic figures and institutions.
Once seen as above politics, the Kennedy Center has increasingly come under scrutiny by Republicans who accuse it of leaning into partisan causes under the banner of “artistic expression.”
Earlier this month, House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to rename the Kennedy Center’s famed opera house the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House,” a nod to the First Lady’s role in promoting art, culture, and refinement during her time in the White House.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who supported the amendment, praised Melania Trump’s contribution to the arts. “This is an excellent way to recognize her support and commitment to promoting the arts,” Simpson stated.
Democratic critics wasted no time denouncing the move. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President Kennedy, issued a scathing rebuke, writing in a social media post, “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces — but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.”
He went further, claiming that “the Trump administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression.”
But for many on the Right, that criticism reflects the very mindset that has led cultural institutions to drift from their original purpose and into ideological territory.
Trump’s defenders note that during his presidency, he didn’t just campaign — he transformed American political discourse, shattered media narratives, and reasserted patriotic values that resonated with millions.
In February, President Trump made waves by appointing himself chair of the Kennedy Center’s board — an unprecedented move aimed at steering the institution away from what he described as a “woke” drift and back toward classical excellence and broad public engagement.
For supporters of the MEGA Act, renaming the Kennedy Center is about more than honoring Trump. It’s about reclaiming the arts from elitism and reminding Americans that cultural leadership doesn’t belong to one party or ideology. It belongs to the people.
The bill’s future remains uncertain in a divided Congress, but its introduction signals that, under Republican leadership, the Right is no longer content to cede the cultural high ground.
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