Democratic Lawmaker Sues Trump Over Kennedy Center Name Change
Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump in an effort to remove his name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Beatty, who serves as an ex-officio trustee on the Kennedy Center board, contends that the board's recent vote to rename the center violated federal law that requires congressional approval for any such changes. The lawsuit argues that Congress intended the Kennedy Center to serve as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and that it should not be renamed without congressional consent.
According to the complaint, Beatty was muted during the Kennedy Center board's video call vote and was unable to voice her disapproval. The board reportedly voted unanimously to rename the institution the "Trump-Kennedy Center," with exterior signage changes already underway. The Kennedy Center confirmed the vote in an email to the Washington Post.
The move has sparked criticism and legal questions about the name change's legitimacy. Critics, including Joe Kennedy III, pointed out that federal law explicitly designates the Kennedy Center as a memorial to President Kennedy, implying it cannot be renamed. The lawsuit is backed by the Washington Litigation Group and Democracy Defenders Action.
The White House, through spokesperson Liz Huston, responded to the suit by stating that Trump had stepped up and saved the old Kennedy Center. This renaming is seen as part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape the center by appointing himself chair and shifting the programming focus toward patriotism.
