Beatty Is an Ex Officio Member of the Kennedy Center Board and Sued Trump and Other Trustees on Monday
Rep. Joyce Beatty has filed a federal lawsuit against Donald Trump and members of the Kennedy Center board, challenging the decision to add Trump’s name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who serves as an ex officio member of the board, argues the move violates federal law because the center’s name was established by Congress and cannot be changed without congressional approval.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, describes the renaming effort as “more reminiscent of authoritarian regimes than an American Republic,” asserting that Congress intended the Kennedy Center to remain a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and a national cultural institution for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
Beatty is asking a federal judge to declare that the center’s legal name remains the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts and to rule that any vote to change the name is null and void.
According to the filing, the Kennedy Center board, largely reshaped earlier this year by Trump, voted last week to rename the institution the Trump–Kennedy Center. One day after the vote, Trump’s name was added to the building’s facade above Kennedy’s.
Beatty alleges that during the virtual board meeting, she was muted after identifying herself and repeatedly denied the opportunity to speak, despite attempting to unmute multiple times. The lawsuit further claims that board members falsely declared the vote unanimous, even though Beatty was unable to participate.
Beatty’s attorneys argue the process was fundamentally flawed and predetermined, stating that nothing could have changed the outcome of the vote. They also contend that the board exceeded its authority by attempting to alter a name set by statute.
The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Previously, the center’s vice president of public relations told NBC News that Beatty was not a voting member of the board and was granted only the privilege of listening to the meeting.
The White House also did not respond to a request for comment Monday night. The legal challenge comes amid broader backlash from members of the Kennedy family and Democratic lawmakers, many of whom have publicly questioned both the legality and symbolism of attaching Trump’s name to the iconic arts venue.
The controversy follows months of upheaval at the Kennedy Center after Trump overhauled the board of trustees and later became its chair. That leadership shift was followed by programming changes, including the effective cancellation of some Pride-related events. Trump had previously teased adding his name to the center, while some Republican lawmakers floated proposals to rename it after first lady Melania Trump.
