House Republicans vote to rename Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump

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FILE - Melania Trump could soon have her name on the Kennedy Center Opera House, under a GOP proposal that highlights the first lady’s role in the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts may soon have a new name above one of its most historic venues: the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.

In a 33-25 vote on Tuesday, House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to a federal spending bill that would rename the opera house, the second-largest theater within the Kennedy Center complex. The proposal still needs to clear the full House and Senate to take effect.

Supporters of the measure say it honors Melania Trump’s work in promoting the arts, while critics see it as a political maneuver that could undermine the Kennedy Center’s legacy.

Why rename the Opera House?

The backstory:

The amendment was introduced as part of an annual appropriations bill that funds the Kennedy Center, among other cultural institutions. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who backed the proposal, said, "This is an excellent way to recognize her support and commitment to promoting the arts."

Melania Trump currently serves as honorary chair of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, a ceremonial position held by first ladies since the center’s founding.

The renaming push comes after President Donald Trump took more direct control of the institution earlier this year, appointing himself chairman and removing several board members. On Truth Social, Trump said he and former board chair David Rubenstein "do not share [the same] Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture."

What we know:

The amendment passed the House Appropriations Committee but still needs approval from the full House and Senate. Supporters argue it honors Melania Trump’s role in the arts and her position as honorary chair of the Kennedy Center board.

• The proposed name is First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.
• The opera house seats 2,347 and regularly hosts major opera and dance productions, as well as the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
• Trump criticized the Kennedy Center last year for featuring drag performances he claimed were "targeting our youth."

What we don't know:

The Kennedy Center has not responded to the proposal, and it’s unclear whether the Senate will take up the measure. It also remains to be seen whether President Trump’s changes to the board will have long-term impacts on the institution’s programming or leadership.

Trump criticizes Kennedy Center during board dinner

President Donald Trump criticized the Kennedy Center during a board board dinner at the White House on Monday. Earlier this year he ousted the existing board of the Washington, D.C. arts center and his newly-appointed board voted Trump to be the Kennedy Center's chair. Trump criticized the center for what he described as outdated interiors and misallocated funding. ?The Kennedy Center, when I said I?ll do this, I hadn?t been there,? Trump said at the dinner. ?It?s the last time I?ll take a job without looking at it.? He also spoke about his recent Middle East trip, claiming it is being "credited as one of the -- maybe the most -- successful visits that anybody has made to any place." Trump also gave more details on his phone call with Russian President Vladamir Putin earlier Monday about ceasefire talks.

• It’s unclear if the proposal will advance in the Senate or gain enough bipartisan support to become law.
• The Kennedy Center itself has not commented on the proposed renaming.

What they're saying:

Rep. Simpson praised Melania Trump’s contributions to the arts, calling the renaming "an excellent way to recognize her support." President Trump, in an earlier post, criticized the direction of the center and promised to usher in a "Golden Age in Arts and Culture."

Fox News Digital has reached out to both the Kennedy Center and the White House for comment.

What's next:

The full House and Senate would need to pass the bill for the renaming to become official. If approved, the move would mark a rare instance of renaming a Kennedy Center venue—an institution originally established in memory of President John F. Kennedy as a living tribute to the arts.