The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts unveiled a new name Friday: “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The board that approved the change was handpicked by Trump, who also serves as chairman.

Unlike Kennedy, Trump has shown insufficient support for the arts. His administration pushed the National Endowment for the Arts to cancel grants and proposed eliminating the agency entirely. While $257 million in funding was allocated, it went toward renovations and administrative costs — not arts programs. This renaming signals an administration prioritizing image over creativity, placing cornerstones of the arts, like self-expression and empathy, at risk.