A prominent member of the United States Congress has initiated a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration following a controversial decision to rename Washington's iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Legal Challenge from the Boardroom
The legal action was filed by Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who sits on the Centre's board as a non-voting member. The suit comes directly after a board vote last week to add former President Donald Trump's name to the building, which will now be known as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
Beatty alleges the vote was presented as unanimous, yet she claims she was "silenced" and denied a vote on the matter. Taking to social media platform X to complain, she stated she was not consulted. The Centre's President, Richard Grenell, countered these claims, noting that Beatty is a "non-voting ex-officio member" and that all such members are excluded from voting.
A Clash Over Legacy and Law
At the heart of the lawsuit is a fundamental dispute over authority. Beatty contends that only the US Congress has the legal power to change the Centre's name. She argues the institution was established as a "living memorial" to President John F. Kennedy following his 1963 assassination and was intended to be a non-partisan "crown jewel of the arts for all Americans".
Kennedy Center officials defend the move. Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi told the Daily Mail the renaming aligns with precedents set by the State Department adding Trump's name to the Institute of Peace and the previous administration renaming military bases. Daravi emphasised that the Kennedy memorial itself is "not impacted at all" and suggested the addition returns the Centre to its bipartisan roots, as it was originally created by President Eisenhower.
Family Fury and Cultural Fallout
The decision has sparked significant backlash, particularly from the Kennedy family. Kerry Kennedy, niece of the late president, pledged on X to take a "pickax" to the new lettering once Trump leaves office, quipping she would need "help holding the ladder" and promising a "union job".
The cultural repercussions are already being felt. At least one artist, Kristy Lee, has cancelled a scheduled performance in protest, with reports suggesting others may follow. This controversy unfolds against a backdrop of revelations about the Centre's physical state. The Daily Mail exclusively reported that the 54-year-old building had deteriorated so severely that engineers recommended demolition.
Grenell credited Trump's real estate expertise with saving the landmark, stating a tour revealed a collapsing sewer system and falling concrete. Instead of demolition, Trump reportedly said, "I can save it," and secured $250 million in funding from Congress for renovations. He later described the Centre as unique, with three massive stages, and stated it "could never be built again".
