On Tuesday, the House Budget Committee voted to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House. First Lady Melania Trump has given her approval to amendments proposed by Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) as part of the 2026 fiscal year budget for internal, environmental, and related expenditures.
The House Committee’s vote, which was 33 to 28, will move forward with officially designating the Kennedy Center Opera House as the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.” This initiative, championed by Rep. Simpson, aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to transform the Kennedy Center into a culturally family-oriented and faith-friendly space. However, it has sparked criticism from left-leaning artists and Democratic figures who’ve reacted to recent alterations.
“First Lady Melania Trump serves as the honorary chair of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees,” noted Simpson, who leads the House Internal and Environmental Budget Subcommittee. “Naming the theater after her is a wonderful way to showcase her appreciation for the arts.”
The proposed change is part of the 2026 budget bills for internal and environmental agencies, which regulate funding for the federally owned Kennedy Center. This renaming will mark the first instance of a venue at the Kennedy Center bearing the Trump family’s name, symbolizing a shift as President Trump aims to eliminate venues thought to promote radical ideological views.
Under Trump’s leadership, the Kennedy Center has also canceled events that target children and closed its controversial “social impact” division, which culminated in the departure of former President Deborah Rutter, while embracing more Christian-oriented programming. Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell mentioned, “We sold out the Angel Studio screening of King of Kings. It’s family-friendly programming, and we plan to offer more in the future. The American public wants shows that reflect their values.”
In response, Democrats and progressive celebrities expressed their outrage. Actress Patty Lepon remarked to The New Yorker that the “trumped” Kennedy Center “should be blown away.” Additionally, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, and producer Jeffrey Seller, pulled the Drag Queen show from the venue and protested the First Family’s attendance at Les Misérables last month.
When a journalist inquired about boycotts of Les Misérables during a visit to Trump’s Kennedy Center, I remarked, “I couldn’t care much. All I do is run the country well.”
