Kennedy Center Name Change: Congresswoman Sues Trump Over Alleged Illegality

Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a Democrat, filed a motion on Wednesday requesting a federal judge remove Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center and halt his plan to close the institution for two years.

Beatty, a Kennedy Center board member, submitted the paperwork via her legal representatives Democracy Defenders Action and the Washington Litigation Group to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The motion challenges the legality of the name change and proposed closure, arguing they violate the board's fiduciary obligations and federal law.

Beatty, an ex officio Kennedy Center board member, alleges that Trump treated the board as a "rubberstamp," expecting them to cosign his policies, and pushed through a motion to add his name to the institution illegally.

The congresswoman argues that Congress was clear in 1964: the Kennedy Center is named for John F. Kennedy, and no one else. The board's decision to rename the Kennedy Center after Trump is manifestly unlawful, according to the lawsuit.

Furthermore, Congress previously prohibited name changes to the institution.

Beatty also seeks a permanent injunction that would stop the name change. Beatty notes that Trump’s renaming is directly linked to artists canceling performances, undermining the institution’s ability to maintain the Center as a performing arts space and living memorial to President Kennedy. Artists including Philip Glass, Béla Fleck, and Renée Fleming, a production of Hamilton, and the Washington National Opera canceled previously announced concerts at the Kennedy Center.

Congresswoman Beatty stated that Trump's attempt to rename the Kennedy Center is not just an act of ego, but an attempt to subvert the Constitution and the rule of law.

Beatty emphasizes that Congress established the Kennedy Center by law, and only Congress can change its name. The Kennedy Center is a national institution with a long tradition of bipartisan support and is not an opportunity for former President Trump to expand his personal brand.

Roma Daravi, Vice President of PR at the Kennedy Center, stated that they are confident the court will uphold the board's decision on the name change and the needed renovations, which will continue as scheduled.

An official from the Trump Kennedy Center stated that the Kennedy Memorial is not impacted by the recent name change, and it remains the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.

Beatty filed her first lawsuit in December to stop Trump from adding his name to the institution. Earlier in March, she filed another trying to stop the two-year closure, and on March 16, the District Court issued a temporary restraining order that would allow her to receive documents about the shutdown and let her vote in a board meeting that day. Despite her claims in court, Congresswoman Beatty was invited to the board meeting, according to Daravi.

Beatty was blocked from attending board meetings, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She attended the March 16 meeting but was not able to vote. A source who was in the room claims to Rolling Stone that Beatty spoke for three minutes on the record, noting her complete and total support of the federal funds and the need for deferred maintenance renovations.

In other Kennedy Center news, it was announced on Thursday that Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at a gala on June 28, despite reports that the White House had previously denied he would win it.

An administration official said this was false reporting at the time of The Atlantic’s reporting, but the situation changed after further conversations took place between the Trump-Kennedy Center and event organizers over the past week. The presentation will be streamed on Netflix.