‘Excellent Way to Recognize Her!’ House Republicans Move to Rename Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump
A group of 33 House Republicans voted in favor of renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House to the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House on Tuesday.
The Republicans added an amendment to a House Appropriations Committee bill to rename the opera house after President Donald Trump’s wife, First Lady Melania Trump. The amendment was adopted in the bill by 33-25, though has not yet been voted on by the rest of Congress.
“Yes, we renamed the opera house at the Kennedy Center for the First Lady, who is the honorary chairman of the board of trustees at the Kennedy Center,” announced Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) on Tuesday. “This designates an excellent way to recognize her support and commitment to promoting the arts and I would encourage members to vote for this.”
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) criticized the move on social media, writing, “If you’re one of 17 million people about to lose their health care, Republicans have some good news: they’re renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump.”
President Trump currently serves as the chairman of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. Trump was elected to the position after stacking the board with allies, including Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Second Lady Usha Vance, and White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.
Trump administration official Richard Grenell currently serves as president of the center.
Since the controversial takeover of the Kennedy Center, Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both been booed at performances.
