Trump Name To Be Taken Down?

A Democratic member of Congress is asking a federal court to prevent efforts to add Donald Trump’s name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, arguing the move violates the institution’s original purpose.

Representative Joyce Beatty, who serves on the center’s board in an ex officio role, filed a motion contending that Congress clearly intended the venue to honor only John F. Kennedy. Her legal team argued that the board’s actions undermine the mission set out when the center was established.

In court filings, Beatty’s attorneys said there could be no greater breach of responsibility than altering the identity of an institution that was legally designated as a memorial to Kennedy alone. They emphasized that federal law explicitly names the center after the former president, leaving no room for additional names to be added.

The lawsuit, originally filed in December, challenges actions taken by a board largely selected during Trump’s tenure. According to the complaint, the board voted to modify the center’s name to include Trump’s and updated signage to reflect the change. Beatty has argued those steps go beyond the board’s authority and conflict with federal statute.

Her lawyers, Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky, stated that the defense has yet to provide a clear legal justification for the decision. They pointed to the law establishing the center, which directs that the building be “designated” as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, arguing that this language firmly закрепs Kennedy as the sole namesake.

They also cited provisions restricting additional memorials within the building, noting that only limited exceptions—such as plaques recognizing donations or inscriptions in designated areas—are allowed. In their view, adding Trump’s name prominently to the building’s exterior and rebranding the institution falls outside those exceptions.

Beyond the naming dispute, Beatty is also seeking to block a proposal to close the center for two years for a large-scale reconstruction project. Earlier this month, a federal judge permitted her to attend a board meeting where the plan was discussed but stopped short of granting her voting rights on the matter.

The legal battle continues as the court weighs whether the board’s actions align with the law governing one of the nation’s most prominent cultural institutions.