House Committee Approves Renaming Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho, have proposed renaming the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., as the "First Lady Melania Trump Opera House" to honor the First Lady's support of the arts. The amendment was approved by the House Appropriations Committee and is included in the fiscal year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, though its final approval by the full House and Senate remains uncertain. This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape the Kennedy Center, where he appointed himself chairman and has pursued a family-focused, faith-friendly cultural agenda, including canceling drag events and embracing Christian programming. The proposal has sparked heated debate and backlash from Democrats, progressive artists, and some cultural figures who view it as politicizing the cultural institution and revisiting the Kennedy legacy. The Kennedy Center, a prominent venue opened in memory of President John F. Kennedy, has never before had any of its major theaters renamed. The move represents a symbolic shift as the Trump administration continues to influence the center's direction and programming.