House Republicans have advanced a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House in honor of First Lady Melania Trump — a move that comes just months after President Donald Trump took control of the iconic cultural institution.
If the measure is ultimately signed into law, the venue would be renamed the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House,” marking the first time a performance space at the Kennedy Center would be named after a sitting first lady.
On Tuesday, July 22, the House Appropriations Committee — controlled by Republicans — voted 33-25 to attach the renaming measure to a broader spending bill covering the Interior Department, EPA, and other agencies. The full House has yet to vote on the bill, which is expected to be delayed by Congress’s upcoming summer recess.
Melania’s Role and Recent Appearance
Melania Trump, who currently holds the ceremonial role of honorary chair of the Kennedy Center (a position traditionally held by first ladies), has made only one major appearance at the center since assuming the title in January. She and President Trump attended the June 11 opening of Les Misérables, where they were met by a mix of applause and boos. Some cast members even boycotted the performance in protest of the couple’s attendance.
During Trump’s first term, the Trumps avoided the Kennedy Center Honors, a long-standing tradition held in the Opera House and typically followed by a White House reception hosted by the president and first lady. Those receptions resumed under the Biden administration.
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Political Symbolism Behind the Push
Renaming the Opera House has sparked criticism as another example of Republicans attempting to elevate the Trump family’s legacy while still in office. Since retaking the White House, President Trump and his allies have made aggressive moves to reshape cultural institutions. In February, Trump ousted the Kennedy Center’s leadership and slashed funding for what he called “woke” programming.
Portraits of both Donald and Melania Trump, along with Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, now hang prominently in the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations.
Critics see the latest renaming effort as part of a larger trend by GOP lawmakers to honor Trump-era figures in unusual ways. Proposals have included renaming Washington Dulles Airport after Donald Trump, making his birthday a national holiday, and placing his image on U.S. currency and Mount Rushmore.
In one particularly controversial proposal, Rep. Greg Steube of Florida suggested defunding Washington, D.C.’s Metro system unless it agreed to rebrand as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and rename its subway as the “Trump Train.”
Experts Sound Alarm
“This is completely unprecedented and, frankly, absurd,” said John White, professor emeritus of politics at Catholic University. “Historically, public buildings and institutions are named after leaders well after they leave office — or after they’ve passed away. This rush to rename things while still in office is deeply political.”
Neither Melania Trump’s office nor the Kennedy Center offered comment on the proposal when contacted by PEOPLE.
The full House is expected to take up the bill when lawmakers return from recess, though it remains unclear whether the renaming effort will survive the legislative process or make it into law.
