Plans to rename major venue after Melania Trump could actually violate law

A proposal put forward by House Republicans to re-name an iconic landmark in honour of Donald and Melania Trump has reportedly hit a bump in the road.

The plan was first announced by right-wing supporters several weeks ago, on the basis of the alleged 'support and commitment in promoting the arts and humanities' that the first lady has supposedly shown over the years.

The historical and cultural Washington D.C. hub was built in 1971 in honour of the late president John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated seven years earlier.

Back in January, however, following his inauguration, Trump was elected the chairman of the facility, after which suddenly fired a horde of previous board members, sparking outrage.

The Opera House was opened in 1971 in honour of JFK (Google Maps)

We are, of course, talking about the infamous Kennedy Center Opera House.

And more recently, a proposal to re-name the Opera House in honour of Melania, 55, was announced.

Days later, plans to change the centre's full title to the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts were also introduced by Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo, as part of something supposedly known as the 'Make America Great Again Act'.

Despite having been sponsored by GOP Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, the double re-naming forms part of wider legislation to fund the Interior Department, which means it still needs to pass through both the House and the Senate to be installed.

Already, mass criticism has been sparked, with many - including JFK's own grandson, Jack Schlossberg - wondering what contributions the Trumps have made to the art world that sees them deserving of such an honour.

Others took the opportunity to question the mother-of-one's citizenship status, with one hitting out on Twitter: "Before they rename the Kennedy Center, tell me again what exactly was Melania Trump’s extraordinary talent that qualified her for an Einstein Visa."

The proposal has sparked mass criticism (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Apparently, however, the proposal has already run into a slight problem.

According to a number of sources that spoke to NBC News this week, House Republicans could actually be breaking the law by moving forward with plans to alter the building's title.

Three of these individuals previously served as board members for the centre, and told the broadcaster that a law forged while creating the centre specifically prohibited any of the buildings being renamed - with the exception of the Eisenhower Theatre.

The 34th US president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, first authorised the building's construction in 1958, which was later revived after stalling by JFK.

Due to this, following his assassination, Kennedy's family argued that the site should be named in his honour as part of legislation that was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson.

As per US code: "After December 2, 1983, no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."

The Trumps could be breaking a law by renaming the Kennedy Centre (Bettman)

Emphasising that Republicans could be going directly against this law by altering the name in favour of Trump, Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine - the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee on the interior - made a damning statement.

"Legally, they can’t just slap her name on it without congressional action," a spokesperson for the politician claimed.

"If Republicans can’t pass their budget — which they usually can’t — the Melania Trump renaming provision dies."

They continued: "The only real wildcard is whether Trump or his allies ignore the law entirely and try to do it unilaterally. But that would have no legal basis — and would almost certainly trigger a court fight."

Simpson, who sponsored the plans, insisted in response that both the White House and Melania's office had no idea that he'd proposed the name change, but that they'd called him afterwards to thank him.