Congressman Cohen Urges President Trump to Reject Inappropriate Renaming of Kennedy Center

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today urged President Donald Trump to reject the Kennedy Center Board's reported decision to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the "Trump-Kennedy Center," calling the move inappropriate, divisive, and disrespectful to history.

"The Kennedy Center was created to honor President John F. Kennedy's legacy and his belief that art and culture are essential to a vibrant democracy," said Congressman Cohen. "As someone who lived through the trauma of President Kennedy's assassination, I find this proposal deeply troubling.

"Renaming the Kennedy Center to include a sitting or former president's name, particularly one who is still a partisan political figure, undermines the purpose of the institution and shows disrespect to the memory of President Kennedy and the moment in history it represents. This is not about politics. It is about decency.

"The Kennedy Center should remain what it was always meant to be: a living memorial to President Kennedy and a cultural home for all Americans, not a vehicle for personal or political branding.

"The action taken by the Trump-selected Board of Directors is outrageous and must be repealed. The Kennedy Center was named for President John F. Kennedy, a martyred hero and patron of the arts. To slap Trump's shiny name on the iconic structure is a sacrilege, an insult to his memory and an offense to the American people. What's next, the Trump Washington Monument? The Trump Lincoln Memorial?"

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