We might as well admit it: Donald Trump will never revitalize The Kennedy Center in Washington. It is dead, a victim of the President’s narcissism. Trump hijacked America’s living memorial to JFK. By adding his name to the center, Trump destroyed it.
And the Trump-Kennedy Center won’t be fit to serve as a living memorial to Kennedy (or anyone other than Donald J. Trump) after Trump “renovates” the building with gaudy gold decorations and other design details better suited for a house of ill-repute.
John F. Kennedy was a President who loved and listened to classical music, opera, and other fine arts. The national center for the performing arts was an exceptionally appropriate memorial. That makes all of us who have attended concerts, opera, and theater at the Kennedy Center, pausing during our visits to reflect on Kennedy’s memory, sad—and angry.
Throughout my years in Washington, I regularly attended concerts and other programming at the Kennedy Center. I recall the building opening in 1971 and experiencing joy that the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) finally had a proper home, one with great acoustics, good seating, and a design that shouted out dignity. JFK, I imagine, was in heaven looking down on the memorial dedicated to his memory with a smile on his face.
I hate to think what JFK might have been thinking last Friday as workers installed Trump’s name on the side of the building. Let’s not go there.
Because the Trump-appointed Trump-Kennedy Center board of directors likely did not have legal authority to rename the Kennedy Center, a future Democratic President (yes, there will be one) will remove Trump’s name. Also going will be what is likely to be a huge bust of Trump’s head, or of Trump raising his fist in the air after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in the Grand Foyer. The large portraits of Trump and J.D. Vance also would go, preferably on Inauguration Day.
Unfortunately, removing the desecration Trump is wrecking on the Center will never reverse the fact that, courtesy of Trump, there is no longer a memorial dedicated to John F. Kennedy in Washington. Some crimes cannot be undone.
Trump killed the Kennedy Center. It almost would have been better had he simply razed it, just like he did with the East Wing of the White House. I don’t expect to ever attend another concert or play at the Center. Period.
But what should I do if I am in Washington and want to hear the NSO perform? Unfortunately, unless something is done, the NSO will have nowhere for its concerts, at least nowhere appropriate.
One idea, one I would love to see, would be for donors, large and small, to build a new home for the performing arts in Washington, one that would not be funded, operated, or controlled by the federal government. It would be private, immune from the destructive impulses of a future Trump.
Americans that want to see JFK honored again should fund the construction of a new Kennedy cultural center and create a sizable endowment to guarantee its independence from future Presidents like Trump.
Ideally, the new Kennedy Center would, like the former one, include a world-class concert hall, a home for the Washington Opera, and a theater. It could also include high quality restaurants (no McDonald’s, please) and a small museum dedicated to JFK’s presidency. I would call the museum “The Camelot” museum and love to see “Camelot” performed in the new theater as the first production after opening.
What should happen to the “Trump Kennedy Center?” I would suggest Congress turn it over the Trump family with the stipulation that Kennedy’s name be permanently removed. Then the Trump family could take full responsibility for the facility. If the family wants to turn it into a venue for UFC cage matches or offer screenings of the upcoming Melania Trump biopic, titled “Melania,” of course, good luck to them.
President John F. Kennedy deserves to be honored with a cultural center that reminds all of America that Presidents can and should be role models that inspire Americans to ask not what the country can do for them, but what they can do for their country.
Happy Holidays!
J.E. Dean writes on politics, government, goldendoodles, and other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean is an advocate for democracy, sanity, and the rule of law.
Jim Bachman says
Perhaps we should consider locating it in Ireland
John E Dean says
Forgive me, I’m not sure of your point here. . .
Jim Bachman says
The Irish would not deface a Kennedy Center with the name of a barely literate rapist.
John Dean says
Thank you for the clarification. I get it now. And you are 100% right.
Pamela McCloud says
I have not attended one performance at the Center since the takeover and like you will never do so. Tickets sales have plummeted as much as 50% and I expect after this latest insult will drop even further. I do recommend we take advantage of the excellent cultural offerings around us. There is opera, symphony, chamber music, drama in so many venues. This should satisfy us until sanity is restored and as you suggest a Center worthy of our patronage is built.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. Your recommendation is spot on–there are excellent cultural offerings around us, in D.C., but also out here on the Eastern Shore.
I’m particularly looking forward to Chesapeake Music’s June Chamber Music Festival . . .
Cecily Sharp-Whitehill says
I got over my disgust and read this article on building a new, true Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and decided I can support this wonderful idea! Private donations only. Let Trump have his own concept of grandeur. Brilliant!
John E Dean says
I apologize for being a bit slow in responding to your comment. I’m not sure the idea of letting Trump have his own concept of grandeur (gold, gold, gold, with a bit of Ultimate Fighting thrown in), but I would like to see Kennedy’s memory honored, not destroyed.
Sheila Donoghue says
If an effort as you describe gets going, I’d like to know how I can help. Thanks,
Sheila Donoghue
John E Dean says
I hope something like “a new Kennedy Center” gets traction. If it does, I will support it.
Thank you for reading the piece.
Jim Moses says
Relax. We’re already a quarter done with him. People will be lining up to donate to the rebuilding of America; he put his name ON the Kennedy Center, we will take it OFF just as easily, along with every other vestige of his presidency not required by law.
And while I’m at it, Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution addresses “the common Defence.” Therefore, it is the Defense Department.
Wilson Dean says
Like you, my wife and I have immeasurably enjoyed innumerable concerts, ballets, and the like at the Kennedy Center over the years. We will never return to what should now be known as the “Trump Dump.”
Your idea of creating a new home dedicated to just the arts and music is certainly worthwhile. It would resurrect the original idea of the Kennedy Center, to celebrate the creative arts, and not glorify some narcissistic, hateful felon.
P. Kathleen Warner says
I thought your idea of a new building for the Kennedy Center a good one — until you suggested the gift shop be called “The Camelot”. Kennedy made his share of ‘mistakes’ with women; I’m afraid the name ‘Camelot’ standing for Jack and Jackie’s relationship & their romance has been sullied by his Irish shenanigans. We’d have to come up with a better name…
John Dean says
Thank you for reading my piece. I note that I suggested that a small museum dedicated to Kennedy’s life and Presidency be called “The Camelot Museum,” not the gift shop.
I understand your point on JFK’s private life but would not want to call it “Irish shenanigans.” I would have said “Trump-like sexual activities” but note that things that Kennedy is alleged are minor league compared to Trump’s alleged assault of E. Jean Carroll, affairs with Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, and a lot more. JFK also never flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s jet or visited Pedofile Island.
Denise Juliano-Bult says
Music Center at Strathmore
North Bethesda, MD
Great venue. Metro accessible. A easy parking.
John Dean says
You make an idea worth considering. The Music Center at Strathmore is a great facility.
Personally, I think the living memorial to JFK should be in D.C. I admit, however, the easy Metro access and better parking are huge pluses.
Steve Cades says
In 167 BCE Antiochus IV, angry that the Jews wouldn’t worship the gods of Rome, desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. We Jews commemorate the recapture, cleansing, and rededication of the Temple during the eight days of Chanukah, just passed this week. In these past months the “temple” built to commemorate President John Fitzgerald Kennedy has been desecrated. I suggest that as soon as the current tyrant leaves the scene we contribute to the cleansing and rededication of the temple of the arts that we constructed on the bank of the Potomac in Kennedy’s honor. We would thus demonstrate that both democracy and the arts are critical to a free nation.
Washington may well need and deserve a new, grand, arts venue, but by restoring the Kennedy Center we can show that the current attempt of tyranny need not permanently stain our nation or its capital.
John Dean says
Thank you for raising some important points. Obviously, once Mr. Trump leaves the political stage and sanity returns to Washington, consideration should be given to removing Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center(and everything else harmful he did to it). It will also be important to make sure a future President will not do the same thing other to other Washington monuments and buildings.
Nancy S. Larson says
Perfect and THANK YOU!!!!!
John Dean says
Nancy: Thank you for reading the piece and for your kind words.
Chris Kayhoe says
Sound’s like you suffer from TDS. get help and then become a patriot for the Future.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece. It sounds like you may not have understood it and maybe are not as familiar with Donald Trump as I am. May I suggest your read what he wrote on his social media site at 6:51 p.m. on Christmas Day. That piece, in my definition of Trump Derangement, is Trump acting deranged. And if you think that Trump is the President to lead us into the Future, please read the piece twice.
Personally, my vision of the future doesn’t include a Trump-Kennedy Center, white nationalism, or rides on Jeffrey Epstein’s airplane and who knows what.
All that having been said, thank you again for reading the piece. It is getting harder to find people who still think Trump is okay.
BARBARA PERRY says
What a wonderful idea. Years ago while stationed at MDW I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the Kennedy Center since I knew one of the docents. Great experience I will never forget.
Bob Parker says
While the changes to the Kennedy Center were made by trump without proper (legal) authority, one must remember, in order to remove trump’s name and other changes, a Democrat president and Congress must be elected.
J. Dean says
Absolutely true
Donna B Taylor says
The desecration of the Kennedy Center is heartbreaking. The fact this was Americans honoring a great president.
Trump changing the board & placing himself as chairman to narcissistic homir himself?? He should wonder why no one is clamoring to honor him in such manner.