US Lawmaker Sues to Stop Trump Name on Kennedy Center
A Democratic lawmaker in the United States has gone to court to challenge the decision to rename the famous John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump, according to the BBC.
The BBC reports that Representative Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit asking the court to remove Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center. This comes after the center’s board, which now includes many Trump allies, voted last week to rename the building the Trump–Kennedy Center.
Beatty says the decision is illegal. According to the BBC, she argues that changing the name of the Kennedy Center can only be done by Congress, not by the board alone. She also said she joined the meeting by phone to oppose the move but was muted when she tried to speak.
The BBC explains that Beatty believes Congress created the Kennedy Center as a “living memorial” to former President John F. Kennedy, and that purpose should not be changed. In her lawsuit, she strongly criticised the move, saying it looked more like actions seen in authoritarian countries than in a democracy.
The White House has defended the decision. The BBC reports that officials said Trump helped save the Kennedy Center by improving its finances, modernising the building, and ending what they called “divisive woke programming.” The White House said the board’s vote to rename the centre marked a new era for the institution.
Following the decision, Trump’s name was added to the outside of the building, and the centre’s website logo was changed to “The Trump Kennedy Center,” according to the BBC.
The name change has sparked strong backlash, especially in Washington, DC, where the Kennedy Center has long been seen as an important national landmark. The BBC notes that musician Chuck Redd cancelled his traditional Christmas Eve jazz concert at the venue, which he had hosted for nearly 20 years, in protest. The show has now been officially listed as cancelled.
The BBC also reports that construction of the centre began in the 1950s, and after President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Congress decided to name the building in his honour. That decision, critics argue, gives the name special legal and historical protection.
After returning to office, Trump removed several board members and replaced them with loyal allies. According to the BBC, the new board later voted to make Trump chairman, with his close adviser Richard Grenell becoming board president.
Trump also secured about $257 million in government funding for renovations, saying the building was in poor condition, the BBC adds.
Members of the Kennedy family have also spoken out. The BBC reports that Joe Kennedy III said the Kennedy Center was named by federal law and cannot simply be renamed, comparing it to trying to rename the Lincoln Memorial.
As the BBC coverage shows, this issue is not just about a name—it raises deeper questions about history, power, and who controls national symbols. While supporters see Trump’s involvement as investment and reform, critics fear it sets a dangerous precedent where political influence can rewrite national heritage. The court’s decision could shape how future leaders treat historic institutions in the United States.
Source: BBC