Trump Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell said Tuesday that its arts award show is now the Trump Kennedy Center Honors.
In an interview with WTOP-FM, Mr. Grenell said that “the name will be exactly the same” — meaning that the annual show will still bear the name of the Trump Kennedy Center.
With the main building of the D.C. theater closed for repairs, the first edition of the Trump Kennedy Center Honors will be held elsewhere come December. Officials are still looking to figure out the new location.
“We’re already looking for different places. It will probably just be in a smaller venue. … Ticket demand will be even higher. With this year’s honors, we raised more money and had more ticket demand than ever before,” Mr. Grenell told WTOP-FM.
He did not specify whether President Trump plans to reprise the hosting role he undertook for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors last December, when country artist George Strait, singer Gloria Gaynor, British actor and singer Michael Crawford, the rock band KISS and Hollywood actor and director Sylvester Stallone were given the award.
In the interim, officials at the Trump Kennedy Center are still looking for the suspect accused of dumping a black, purportedly toxic chemical on an ice rink that had been installed in the building’s outdoor plaza. The center posted surveillance footage of the suspect on social media on Monday.
Public Assistance Needed: Vandalism at the Trump Kennedy Center
— The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) February 23, 2026
Do you recognize the individual in this surveillance footage? If so, please contact the U.S. Park Police Tip Line immediately:
Email: uspp_tipline@nps.gov (mailto:_tipline@nps.gov)
Phone: 888-361-3332… pic.twitter.com/zuaNwkbu0K
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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