1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The decision to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House as the "First Lady Melania Trump Opera House" is a blatant partisan move that disregards the center's bipartisan traditions. Melania Trump does not have a well-documented history or significant contributions as a patron of the arts or the Kennedy Center to warrant such an honor. Renaming this iconic venue after the current First Lady appears to be a politically motivated effort to turn the Kennedy Center into a monument celebrating the Trump administration. This proposal undermines the Kennedy Center's standing as a cultural institution meant to bring people together through the shared experience of the arts. Bestowing this honor on Melania Trump without her having made any exceptional philanthropic or artistic impact is an empty gesture that only serves partisan interests. The Kennedy Center should remain an apolitical space dedicated to celebrating artistic achievement rather than being wielded as a vehicle for political aggrandizement. I urge you to reject this unnecessary and divisive name change that betrays the Kennedy Center's mandate as a living memorial to President Kennedy's vision of making the arts accessible to all Americans. The Opera House should retain its name or be renamed through a fair and non-partisan process that uplifts individuals who have truly championed the arts through decades of sustained effort and patronage. Politicizing this cultural institution sets a concerning precedent that undermines its integrity.