Democratic US Representative Joyce Beatty has filed a lawsuit seeking to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The legal challenge follows a controversial decision by the centre’s board to rename the landmark venue the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” a move that has sparked political and public backlash.
Last week, the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees voted to add Trump’s name to the institution. Beatty, who is one of several Democratic lawmakers designated by law to serve on the board, argues the decision was unlawful. Her lawsuit claims that any change to the centre’s name requires an act of Congress, not a board vote, because the venue was established as a federal memorial.
Claims of Being Silenced
According to the lawsuit, Beatty attempted to participate remotely in the meeting where the name change was discussed but was muted when she tried to voice her objections. The filing describes the process as deeply troubling, arguing that Congress intended the centre to serve as a “living memorial” to President John F. Kennedy, rather than a platform for political rebranding.
White House Defends the Decision
The White House has strongly defended the renaming. In a statement, officials said Trump had revitalised the Kennedy Center by improving its finances, modernising the building and reshaping its programming. A spokesperson described the board’s vote as unanimous and framed the name change as the start of a new era for one of America’s most prominent cultural institutions.
The dispute follows significant changes to the Kennedy Center’s leadership. Shortly after returning to office, Trump removed several board members and replaced them with allies, later appointing himself chairman. His close adviser, Richard Grenell, was named board president. The board now includes a majority of Trump appointees alongside members designated by law.
The name change has drawn sharp criticism in Washington DC and beyond. Members of the Kennedy family have spoken out, insisting the centre was named by Congress to honour a fallen president. Joe Kennedy III compared the move to renaming the Lincoln Memorial, arguing it undermines the centre’s historic and legal foundation.
