The board, stocked with Trump allies in a broad takeover this year, voted on Thursday to rename the Washington landmark The Donald J Trump and The John F Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, or Trump-Kennedy Centre for short.
Democrats said the move was unlawful and required congressional authorisation.
Members of Kennedy’s family also objected to the change for a building that honours the 35th president, who was assassinated in 1963.
Mr Trump, a Republican, has mused about having his name attached and called it the Trump-Kennedy Centre from the stage when he hosted the annual Kennedy Centre Honours earlier this month. On Thursday he said he was surprised by the decision of the board, which he leads.
President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression
Proponents of the name change say Mr Trump has strengthened the institution through fundraising and a focus on building renovation.
“President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression, targeting artists, journalists and comedians and erasing the history of Americans whose contributions made our nation better and more just,” Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Centre, posted on X.
Maria Shriver, the slain president’s niece, posted on X: “It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”
Tarps are installed in front of the sign at the Kennedy Centre. Photo: AP
The rapidity with which the physical change was made suggests that preparations for a new name had been made before the Thursday vote. The centre’s website now has The Trump Kennedy Centre name affixed to the top, too.
Earlier this year Mr Trump ousted members of the board appointed by president Joe Biden, took over as chairman and installed Richard Grenell, a long-time ally and former ambassador to Germany, as the centre’s president.
Since returning to power in January, Mr Trump has moved aggressively to cement a physical legacy in Washington, paving the White House Rose Garden for a patio and razing its East Wing for a 90,000-sqft ballroom.
His administration also affixed his name to the nearby United States Institute of Peace building.