Barbra Streisand isn’t known for holding back, and her latest statement proves it. On September 17, the legendary singer and 2008 Kennedy Center Honoree criticized President Trump for threatening to withhold renovations at the Kennedy Center unless his name is added to the building. In her statement, Streisand said she was indignant watching the“revered institution”become a fight over“one man’s name and unchecked ego.”
The saga started when Trump posted on TruthSocial that the board agreed to close the center for safety reasons, adding that reconstruction wouldn’t begin until a court rules on the naming issue. A federal judge, Christopher Cooper, already decided that Congress must approve any memorial to Trump at the center. Members of JFK’s family, including Maria Shriver and JFK’s grandson Jack Schlossberg, have also pushed back against the renaming effort.
Streisand’s connection to the Kennedy Center runs deep. When she received the Honors in 2008, she said the award represented art’s importance to democracy. Now that same institution is caught in a legal and cultural debate about legacy, power, and who gets remembered. It’s a lot for one building to carry.
Do you think Trump’s name belongs on the Kennedy Center? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.