A new GOP-backed bill seeks to rename the Kennedy Center in honor of Donald Trump. Introduced by Representative Bob Onder, a Republican from Missouri, the “Make Entertainment Great Again (MEGA) Act” aims to recognize Trump’s supposed dedication to the preservation of the arts by changing the name the country’s premier performing arts center in honor of the former reality TV star–turned–president. If passed, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts would be officially known as the “Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts.”
“From books and television shows to board games, movies, and more; when it comes to the arts, President Trump’s golden touch has captivated and entertained audiences for decades,” a press release on Onder’s website reads. It goes on to describe Trump’s The Apprentice and appearances in film and TV as enamoring American and British viewers, specifically highlighting his stints on Saturday Night Live. “He is also the only President to have hosted Saturday Night Live. A program he’s hosted not once, but twice!” The MEGA bill follows a separate GOP-led amendment introduced earlier this month that calls for renaming the Kennedy Center’s Opera House the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.”
“You would be hard pressed to find a more significant cultural icon in the past 40 years than President Trump,” Onder added. “President Trump’s love and mastery of entertainment has stood the test of time and allowed him to capture Americans’ attention for decades… I cannot think of a more ubiquitous symbol of American exceptionalism in the arts, entertainment, and popular culture at large than President Trump.”
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In February, Trump declared himself the chairman of the Kennedy Center not long after his second inauguration. Following his self-appointment, he initiated a sweeping overhaul of the center—firing dozens of board members, removing Deborah Rutter from her role as president, a position she had held for 11 years, and declaring his desire for the Center to stage only “non-woke” productions.
Since then, performers have pulled out of shows and members of the institution have resigned, including Ben Folds, Renée Fleming, and now former treasurer Shonda Rhimes. In June, Trump attended a performance of Les Misérables, his first appearance at the Center as chairman, and was met with jeers from the audience, a protest from a group of drag queens, and half of the musical’s cast boycotting that night’s show.
Fold recently spoke to Kyle Meredith about his decision to resign as an Artistic Advisor for the Kennedy Center in the wake of Trump’s takeover. Listen to the conversation below.
