JFK’s grandson goes ballistic over White House attempts to rename D.C. institution after Melania Trump
The only grandson of late President John F. Kennedy was irate at Congressional Republicans plan to rename a portion of the Kennedy Center after First Lady Melania Trump.
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, pioneered the effort that would the rename the performing arts center’s opera house after the first lady that could see a House vote as soon as this fall.
Jack Schlossberg, the former president’s lone grandson and a colorful social media personality, raged against this move on Instagram, writing: ‘Plain reading of the statute makes clear — YOU CANT DO THAT.’
Schlossberg’s post cited a federal law in 1983 stating: ‘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 tagged both President Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in the post.
DailyMail.com has reached out to both the White House and the First Lady for comment.
Simpson’s amendment was adopted on Tuesday and is expected to be given a full vote on the House floor once Congress returns from August recess in September.
‘The Opera House located in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shall be known and designated as the ‘First Lady Melania Trump Opera House,’ the text states.
Jack Schlossberg (pictured), the only grandson of late President John F. Kennedy, was irate at Congressional Republicans plan to rename a portion of the Kennedy Center after First Lady Melania Trump
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, pioneered the effort that would the rename the performing arts center’s opera house after the First Lady (pictured right) that could see a House vote as soon as this fall
The veteran GOP lawmaker, who has been dubbed ‘MAGA Mike,’ told the Daily Mail in a statement he wanted to honor Melania. It is unclear if the move was coordinated with the White House or the Kennedy Center.
‘First Lady Melania Trump serves as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center. Naming a theater after her is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts.’
Simpson is chairman of House committee that oversees federal funding for capital repairs and operations and maintenance at the Kennedy Center.
Congressman Greg Casar, a progressive Democrat from Texas, knocked the news as emblematic of misguided Republican priorities.
‘If you’re one of 17 million people about to lose their health are, Republicans have some good news: they’re renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump,’ Casar posted.
The president has sought to remake Washington’s premiere art center in his image during his second term, stunningly firing the entire board during his first month in office.
Trump later named himself chairman of the board and appointed Special Presidential Envoy Ric Grenell as acting Kennedy Center president and executive director.
The first couple most recently attended a showing of ‘Les Misérables’ at the iconic venue in early June.
Schlossberg’s post cited a federal law in 1983 stating: ‘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’
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
‘I’ve seen it, we’ve seen it, a number of times, it’s fantastic. It was just about our first choice. That’s what we got and we’ve got other ones coming, other great ones coming,’ Trump said of the show.
When the Trumps entered the theater, there were cheers, applause and a USA chant. There were also some boos.
In an act of defiance, some of the show’s actors boycotted the performance for the president.
Melania Trump has also been appointed to an honorary chair role on the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees. As have Dr. Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The president has celebrated Grenell’s work at the performing arts center.
So far the 2025–2026 season has featured an array of musical hits, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, Monty Python’s Spamalot and Back to the Future: The Musical.
