Trump Renames Multiple Institutions After Second Inauguration
Citizens Protest Renaming of the "Kennedy Center"
Christmas Eve Concert Canceled on the Same Day
The Christmas Eve jazz concert, which was scheduled to be held on December 24 (local time) at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Center for the Performing Arts (Kennedy Center), a prominent venue in Washington, DC, was canceled on the same day. This came after the Kennedy Center Board of Directors, chaired by President Donald Trump, decided to rename the venue the "Trump-Kennedy Center," prompting backlash from performers. Citizens are also protesting this decision, chanting "Trump is not JFK."
As the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, led by President Donald Trump, decided to rename the venue the "Trump-Kennedy Center," citizens protested in front of the John F. Kennedy Memorial, chanting "Trump is not Kennedy." Photo by AP Yonhap News
On December 26, Yonhap News, citing foreign media, reported, "The Kennedy Center announced this afternoon that the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam has been canceled," adding, "The organizers cited the renaming of the Kennedy Center to the 'Trump-Kennedy Center' as the reason for the cancellation."
According to Yonhap News, Chuck Redd, who has hosted this concert every year since 2006, stated that he decided to cancel the performance after learning of the name change on December 19. The drummer and vibraphonist said, "At this point, I have no plans to reschedule the concert."
Previously, the Kennedy Center Board of Directors unanimously resolved to change the name of the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center. After taking office, President Trump replaced the Kennedy Center board members appointed by the Joe Biden administration with his own associates and assumed the role of chairman himself. The center was originally named the "Kennedy Center" by Congress and the federal government in 1963 to honor President Kennedy after his assassination, but President Trump has now added his own name to it.
Donald Trump's name was placed on the signboard of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Photo by AP Yonhap News
Since the start of his second administration, President Trump has been attaching his name to various institutions and policy initiatives. On December 22 (local time), it was announced that the new class of battleships to be built by the U.S. Navy would be named the "Trump-class battleships."
Earlier this month, the Washington DC-based think tank, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), was newly inscribed as the "Donald Trump Institute of Peace." USIP is an independent public institution established by U.S. Congress through legislation in 1984. Additionally, a government-run pharmaceutical sales website to be launched next year will be called "TrumpRx," and a financial investment account supporting newborns for four years from this year onward has been named the "Trump Account." An immigration program that grants U.S. permanent residency or a stay permit in exchange for a payment of 1 million dollars (approximately 1.48 billion KRW) has been branded as the "Trump Gold Card."
In response, CNN criticized, "This series of actions, putting his name everywhere, reveals a sense of urgency to dominate attention in his first year back in the White House and a fear of being forgotten in the future," adding, "It appears that President Trump views the presidency as a means to acquire unlimited power. It is clear that he sees the office and its immense authority as tools for self-promotion."
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