Lawmaker files lawsuit to prevent Trump from having his name added to the Kennedy Center.

A Democratic congresswoman has initiated legal proceedings against the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in a bid to prevent the board from renaming the venue to include the current president’s name. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asserting that the board’s recent decision to rename the center as the Trump Kennedy Center exceeds its legal authority. Beatty is seeking a judicial declaration to invalidate the board’s decision.

The lawsuit emphasizes that any changes to the name of the Kennedy Center, which was established by an act of Congress, require congressional approval. This legal challenge comes in response to a vote by the Kennedy Center’s board last week, which has drawn significant scrutiny from legal experts and observers. They express concern that the board’s actions represent a departure from established practices regarding the institution’s governance and legacy.

The Kennedy Center did not provide comments on the lawsuit at the time of inquiry. The decision to incorporate the president’s name into the center’s title reflects a broader trend during Trump’s leadership, where he has sought to exert influence over the institution since he assumed its directorship. Notably, ticket sales for Kennedy Center events have reportedly decreased since his appointment, raising questions about the long-term implications of this governance change.

Filed on behalf of Beatty by Democracy Defenders Action and the Washington Litigation Group, the suit seeks to reverse any branding changes made to the center, including the recent installation of signage bearing Trump’s name. Compounding the controversy, Beatty alleged that her voice was suppressed during the board meeting where the decision was made, claiming she was muted when attempting to express her objections.

Established shortly after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, the Kennedy Center was dedicated as the sole national monument to his memory. This continued reverence for Kennedy’s legacy underscores the gravity of the current legal disputes surrounding the institution.

Richar Grenell, the president of the Kennedy Center, has defended the decision to rename the venue as a measure to represent a “bipartisan space.” He maintains that this alteration does not undermine the center’s dedication to Kennedy. However, legal scholars, including Roger Colinvaux, assert that the board overstepped its authority as mandated by statutory law.

In the wake of the board’s decision, members of the Kennedy family expressed their disappointment. Prominent figures, including Maria Shriver and former Congressman Joe Kennedy, voiced their concerns over the implications of renaming an institution that has long served as a memorial to President Kennedy.

As this legal battle unfolds, the future of the Kennedy Center’s identity remains in question, reflecting wider societal debates regarding political influence on cultural institutions.