Rep. Joyce Beatty, representing Ohio, has initiated a legal challenge in a federal court located in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit seeks to compel President Trump, along with the board and staff of the Kennedy Center, to restore the name of the arts complex to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
On Wednesday, Beatty's motion requests that a federal circuit court judge nullify the actions taken by the Trump administration and the current board and staff of the Kennedy Center, which have resulted in the complex being referred to as "The Trump-Kennedy Center."
Beatty's legal team articulated in their filing, "Can the Board of the Kennedy Center — in direct contradiction of the governing statutes — rename this sacred memorial to John F. Kennedy after President Donald J. Trump? The answer is, unequivocally, 'no.' By renaming the Center — in violation of the law — Defendants have breached the terms of the trust and their most basic fiduciary obligations as trustees. Shortly after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, Congress designated the Kennedy Center as the 'sole national memorial to the late' President in the nation's capital."
In an email statement to NPR on Thursday, Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, expressed confidence in the court's support for the board's naming decision and the ongoing necessary renovations that are scheduled to proceed without interruption. NPR also sought comment from the White House but did not receive a response.
In December, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the complex would officially be renamed "The Trump-Kennedy Center." Despite the lack of Congressional approval for this designation, the Kennedy Center's website and promotional materials were promptly updated to reflect this administration-induced name change. Additionally, on the same day as Leavitt's announcement, Trump’s name was added to the exterior signage of the complex, overshadowing the name of President Kennedy.
Later that month, Rep. Beatty, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, filed a lawsuit against Trump, members of the Kennedy Center board appointed by Trump, and several ex-officio members. She argued that the name of the complex had been established by legislation in 1964, and Wednesday's motion is a subsequent component of that ongoing litigation.
In a press release to NPR on Wednesday, Rep. Beatty stated, "Donald Trump's attempt to rename the Kennedy Center after himself is not just an act of ego. It is an attempt to subvert our Constitution and the rule of law. Congress established the Kennedy Center by law, and only Congress can change its name."
The decision to alter the name has prompted significant backlash from patrons, artists, and supporters of the Kennedy Center, leading many to feel that the integrity of the performing arts venue is being compromised by political influences. Following the announcement of the new name, several high-profile artists withdrew their planned performances, including composer Philip Glass, Broadway's Stephen Schwartz, and Grammy-winning banjo artist Béla Fleck.
Moreover, the Washington National Opera (WNO), which has called the Kennedy Center home since 1971, has severed its association with the venue amidst a dramatic decline in ticket sales. WNO artistic director Francesca Zambello informed NPR earlier this month, "We did try as best as we could to encourage [the patrons] that we are a bipartisan organization, but people really voted with their feet and with their pocketbooks. And so we realized that there was really no choice for us."
Share this story