Hell hath no fury like a president scorned. Or, rather, like a president who doesn’t get his way. According to CNN, trustees at the Kennedy Center and reporters present for the incident witnessed Donald Trump having a “tantrum” when he was refused the request to be publicly recognized at the museum. The idea of Trump throwing a fit to those in charge of what happens at the performing arts building is enough to make any anti-MAGA individual downright giddy.
But, per ABC News, Trump’s reported tantrum did not come without some threats from the president. In December 2025, board members voted to rename The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Around six months later, a judge ruled that the building be reverted to its original name. Now, Trump may want his name back on the building meant to be a memorial to JFK.
Donald Trump had the name of The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts changed to include his name.
Rep. Joyce Beatty from Ohio appeared on CNN to discuss reports about Trump’s alleged fit at not getting his way during a hearing about The Kennedy Center. He also reportedly claimed that he put millions of dollars into its renovation and he wants recognition for his role in improving the memorial museum.
Beatty did not share the exact explicit language that Trump used during the meeting, but she did note that she believes “it would be unthinkable” for people to hear a sitting president use the language that Trump reportedly used during his alleged tantrum.
“He threw a tantrum,” she told CNN. “It was like an immature child. I wouldn’t even want to put this on a child. It was just being very, in my opinion, very immature, shouting, calling names, stating facts.”
She added that she believes Trump made the issue “personal” with her due to her going against him in court. She said that “what he’s doing is unlawful.” The issue with Trump comes after a piece of plaster fell from the ceiling, Now, Trump is citing a need for safety renovations and, according to Beatty, he is going to hold her “personally responsible” if someone dies at The Kennedy Center.
He threatened to permanently close the JFK memorial center.
At the time of the meeting, Beatty spoke to reporters on the House steps.
“He wasn’t pleased with it,” she said, of a federal ruling that blocked Trump from once again adding his name to the building. “He was very explicit with his words, and I responded equally as explicit. He is in contempt of court for what he’s doing now in trying to just simply go over and close the Kennedy Center and to have people leave the center.”
Per ABC News, after the ruling stated that Trump would not be allowed to add a tribute to The Kennedy Center in Trump’s honor, the board meeting met and closed The Kennedy Center. A fence was then put up around its perimeter. The board at The Kennedy Center is made up of individuals who Trump himself appointed.
Critics likened Donald Trump to an abusive husband.
Now, after his name was removed from the outside of the building, Trump wants something at The Kennedy Center to show his involvement in allocating millions of dollars to the monument. But after the federal judge ruled against him, Trump’s response was to close it down, allegedly for safety concerns.
On Reddit, users compared Trump to an abusive and controlling husband who did not get his way.
“Like any other domestic abuser, Trump’s decided that if he can’t have his way, everyone gets punished,” someone wrote on the post. “Also, it’s very telling that his main reason for shutting down the Kennedy Center is that he’d have to ask Congress for consent to put his name on the building first. He really hates asking for consent.”
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