A major US cultural institution has become the epicentre of a political storm following its controversial renaming and allegations of financial mismanagement under the leadership of former President Donald Trump. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC was officially renamed the 'Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center' on 18 December 2024, sparking immediate condemnation from the Kennedy family and a formal Senate investigation.
Senate Probe Alleges 'Looting' of Public Institution
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee, launched an investigation in November 2024. He alleges the national cultural centre is being operated as a 'slush fund and private club for Trump's friends and political allies'. The probe focuses on claims of cronyism, financial mismanagement, and a significant deviation from the Center's statutory mission.
'When the brigands took the ship, their first instinct was to loot it for their own benefit,' Whitehouse told The Guardian, describing a 'Maga party atmosphere' of hiring friends and providing luxury perks. The takeover began in February 2024 when Trump ousted Biden-appointed board members, assumed the chairmanship, and installed longtime ally Richard Grenell as president.
Preferential Deals and Luxury Spending Under Scrutiny
The investigation's central charge is that the Kennedy Center provided preferential access and financial benefits to organisations connected to the Trump administration. A key example is a contract granting world football's governing body, FIFA, free and exclusive use of the entire campus for 18 days in late 2024 for the World Cup draw.
Senator Whitehouse's estimates suggest this arrangement cost the Center over $5 million in lost revenue from rental fees, rescheduled programming, and other services. Grenell defended the deal, stating FIFA gave 'several million dollars' and covered all expenses, but Whitehouse contends this defence lacks documentary support.
Contracts also reveal steep rental discounts for conservative groups. NewsNation received a nearly $20,000 discount for a town hall, while the American Conservative Union Foundation got a $21,982.60 discount for a CPAC event, with waivers explicitly noted as coming from the 'Office of the President'.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered significant spending on luxury hospitality. Between April and July 2024, Grenell's team charged the Center $27,185 for rooms at the Watergate Hotel, including multi-night stays and valet parking. An additional $10,773 was spent on private lunches, dinners, and alcohol, with receipts showing charges for champagne service and multi-bottle wine orders.
A Controversial Renaming and a Broader Cultural Battle
The political conflict escalated when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the board's 'unanimous' vote to rename the institution on 18 December 2024. Workmen began adding Trump's name to the facade the following day. The Kennedy family condemned the move as 'beyond wild', correctly noting that an act of Congress is required to alter the Center's name.
Senator Whitehouse sees this as part of a broader 'second term strategy' in a potential Trump administration, involving a literal culture war. This includes plans for a triumphal arch in Washington and threats to withhold federal funds from Smithsonian museums if they fail to submit to content reviews aligning with a 'Maga narrative'.
Grenell has vehemently rejected all accusations, blaming the Center's previous leadership for 'financial chaos' and claiming his team is implementing necessary fixes. He accused Whitehouse of 'partisan attacks and false accusations'.
The Senate EPW committee investigation continues. 'We're going to continue to dig away until we're sure that we understand the depths of the problem,' Whitehouse stated, asserting that using public institutions to enrich political allies is not 'the ordinary and appropriate thing' for a new administration.
