Democratic Congresswoman Sues To Remove Donald Trump From Kennedy Center’s Name

[ad_1] A congresswoman who's an ex officio member of the Kennedy Middle board sued different trustees on Monday, searching for a courtroom ruling to pressure them to take away Donald Trump from the title of the humanities instituion.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) filed the lawsuit on Monday in federal courtroom in Washington, D.C., searching for a declaration that the title of the humanities establishment is the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts, and {that a} board vote final week to vary the title is null and void.

“As a result of Congress named the middle by statute, altering the Kennedy Middle’s title requires an act of Congress,” Beatty’s lawsuit acknowledged. “However on December 18 and 19, 2025—in scenes extra paying homage to authoritarian regimes than the American republic—the sitting President and his handpicked loyalists renamed this storied middle after President Trump. It is a flagrant violation of the rule of legislation, and it flies within the face of our constitutional order. Congress meant the Middle to be a residing memorial to President Kennedy—and a crown jewel of the humanities for all People, no matter social gathering. Until and till this Courtroom intervenes, Defendants will proceed to defy Congress and thwart the legislation for improper ends.”

The Trump managed board voted to rename the middle on Thursday. The subsequent day, staff added Trump’s title to the facade of the advanced, so it reads “The Donald Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Middle for the Performing Arts.”

The lawsuit named Trump, who's chairman of the Kennedy Middle, in addition to its president, Ric Grenell, and the members of the board, together with the establishment itself. Additionally named are different ex officio members, together with Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert Kennedy Jr., Home Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Chief John Thune.

The lawsuit cited breach of trustees obligations beneath federal legislation and violation of plaintiff’s rights beneath federal legislation, amongst different claims.

Beatty is also searching for an order that “any and all bodily and digital signage purporting torename the Kennedy Middle after Defendant Trump, together with the signage on the constructing’sfront portico and the web site.”

The middle didn't instantly reply to a request for touch upon Beatty’s lawsuit.

President Lyndon Johnson signed a legislation in 1964 designating the Nationwide Cultural Middle because the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts. After the Trump-controlled board voted, Democrats and members of the Kennedy household shortly cried foul.

The lawsuit known as the board vote a “sham.”

“The conduct within the Board assembly itself confirmed that the assembly was a sham, orchestrated by Defendant Trump and his loyalists as a pretext for a predetermined end result,” Beatty’s lawsuit acknowledged. “There was no advance discover within the agenda that the Board could be contemplating a reputation change. The assembly was held on the dwelling of Andrea Wynn, the spouse of a on line casino mogul and Republican donor, whom Defendant Trump put in on the Board. On the finish of the assembly, Defendant Trump’s loyalists abruptly introduced that that they had information they wish to share: the Kennedy Middle would now be renamed after Donald Trump.”

Beatty was on the board assembly name, however was blocked from expressing her considerations as a result of she was placed on mute, in accordance with the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Middle later mentioned that ex officio members don't have a vote, one thing codified within the middle’s bylaws.

However Beatty’s lawsuit contended that the “legislation doesn't distinguish between the ex officio trustees and common trustees, and the previous possess the identical rights and tasks because the latter.”

Roma Daravi, spokeswoman for the middle, defended the board’s authority to vary the title. “This motion is in keeping with the precedent of the State Division including President Trump’s title to the Institute of Peace. And the earlier Administration renaming army bases,” she mentioned in a press release final week. But the trouble to strip army bases of Accomplice names was approved by an act of Congress in 2021, one thing that critics of the Kennedy Middle renaming say is required.

The lawsuit additionally contended that the “purported title change will impose monetary and operational harms on this already struggling establishment by alienating ticket holders, donors, and artists.” The lawsuit famous that after the title change, musician Kristy Lee introduced that she was canceling her Jan. 14, 2026 efficiency. “On info and perception, ticket holders have canceled their tickets in protest of Defendants’ illegal actions and demanded refunds. There may be each cause to count on this pattern will proceed, with related monetary and reputational harms,” the lawsuit acknowledged.

Beatty is represented by Norman Eisen, founding father of Democracy Defenders Motion, and Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel at Washington Litigation Group.