Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, has criticized House Republicans for proposing to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after First Lady Melania Trump, referencing federal law that he says prohibits such a change.
On July 22, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee, led by Republicans, voted 33-25 along party lines to advance an amendment that would rename the Kennedy Center’s second-largest theater as the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.” The proposal was introduced by Representative Mike Simpson, a Republican from Idaho, as part of a spending bill for the Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency.
In response, Schlossberg posted a detailed statement on Instagram on July 23, 2025, accusing President Trump of being fixated on surpassing his grandfather’s legacy. The Harvard Law School graduate, aged 32, argued that the Trump Administration embodies suppression rather than expression, claiming the president uses his authority to curb free speech and instill fear.
Schlossberg further cited a federal statute from December 2, 1983, in another Instagram post, stating that “no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.” He declared: “Plain reading of the statute makes clear — YOU CAN’T DO THAT.”
The Kennedy Center, established in 1964 as a living tribute to President Kennedy following his assassination, opened in 1971. Public Law 88-260 specifically designated the center as an interactive memorial for the late president, explaining the statutory prohibition against additional memorials within the facility.
Earlier this year, President Trump replaced most of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees with his supporters and subsequently asked them to elect him as chairman. This move has faced criticism from many in the arts community who oppose the president’s involvement in the cultural institution.
Representative Simpson justified his amendment, stating he wanted to honor Melania Trump for her role as Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center. Simpson, who leads the House committee overseeing federal funding for the center, described naming a theater after the first lady as a fitting way to recognize her appreciation for the arts.
In his statement, Schlossberg emphasized his grandfather’s commitment to the arts as a means of promoting civil rights and opposing authoritarian regimes. He noted President Kennedy faced political criticism for inviting Black artists to the White House, including the Staples Singers, and supporting performers like Harry Belafonte and James Baldwin on international tours.
The Kennedy Center debate has surfaced alongside Schlossberg’s separate disagreement with producer Ryan Murphy over an upcoming FX series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Murphy commented on a podcast that it was strange for Schlossberg to be upset about a relative he doesn’t remember. Schlossberg responded on social media, recalling his earliest memories of his uncle, who called him “Jackolatern” and picked him up from school in his Pontiac convertible.
Schlossberg remembered serving as ring bearer at Kennedy Jr.’s wedding and the day his uncle died in the 1999 plane crash. He criticized Murphy for profiting from his uncle’s story without supporting the causes Kennedy Jr. championed or his legacy of public service.
In a provocative social media post on July 24, 2025, Schlossberg proposed a deal to President Trump regarding the Kennedy Center naming issue. He suggested that if Trump releases files related to Jeffrey Epstein, he would assist the president in achieving what Schlossberg described as Trump’s lifelong goal of altering the Kennedy Center’s name.
The amendment to rename the Opera House requires approval from the full House and Senate before becoming law. The proposal is anticipated to reach the House floor for a vote when Congress returns from the August recess in September 2025.
Representative Greg Casar, a progressive Democrat from Texas, criticized the Republican initiative as indicative of misplaced priorities, noting that 17 million people face potential health care losses while Republicans focus on renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House.
President Trump and Melania Trump attended a performance of “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center in early June 2025. Their appearance was met with mixed reactions from the audience, with both cheers and boos. Several cast members boycotted the performance in protest of the Trumps’ presence.