Kennedy Center Altered Rules Ahead of Trump-Inspired Name Change
Rolling Stone••entertainment
Key Points:
- The Kennedy Center revised its bylaws in May to restrict voting rights to presidentially-appointed board members, excluding ex officio members designated by Congress from voting or counting toward a quorum.
- This change preceded the board's December 18 vote to rename the institution the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, with Trump serving as board chair and having appointed 34 of the voting members.
- The bylaw revisions also included provisions allowing the president to serve as the center's CEO and receive compensation, consolidating Trump's control over the institution.
- The renaming sparked significant backlash, with artists canceling performances and advisory members resigning; legal challenges and legislation have been introduced to reverse the name change, arguing it
