WASHINGTON – A key House panel aligned with the Trump administration on July 22 as they voted to name the Kennedy Center opera house after first lady Melania Trump. “This recognition is a wonderful way to appreciate her dedication to promoting the arts,” stated Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, who guided the Appropriations Committee’s spending bill for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. However, Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, opposed the change, expressing concerns about granting Trump excessive control over the Kennedy Center with limited oversight from Congress. The Republicans pushed through the proposal to rename a section of the Kennedy Center after a member of the current administration, with the committee voting 33-25 in favor. The full House and Senate would need to vote on the amendment as part of the spending bill for various agencies.
Under President Trump’s legislative agenda, lawmakers have already allocated $256.7 million for Kennedy Center improvements by 2029. The House subcommittee was currently voting on providing $37.2 million in annual funding for the center starting October 1. Pingree criticized the increased financial support to the president, allowing him more influence over the center’s operations and naming rights. Trump previously dismissed several members of the Kennedy Center’s board upon taking office and appointed himself as chairman. He has voiced his dissatisfaction with certain performances at the venue and aims to enhance its potential.
