A Democratic member of the United States Congress has launched a legal challenge against former President Donald Trump over the controversial renaming of a Washington DC arts institution.
Legal Action Filed Against Name Change
On Monday, US Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The suit argues the recent board vote to rename it the 'Trump-Kennedy Center' is a "flagrant violation" of federal law, as such an action requires approval from Congress.
Beatty, who serves as an ex-officio trustee on the centre's board, stated in the complaint that Congress intended the venue to be a "living memorial to President Kennedy" for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. The legal documents warn that without court intervention, the defendants will continue to "defy Congress and thwart the law for improper ends."
Allegations of a Muted Dissent
The lawsuit contains further allegations regarding the conduct of the renaming vote. Beatty claims she was prevented from speaking during the board's proceedings. She alleges that during a video call about the matter, she was muted and thus unable to voice her formal disapproval of the proposed name change.
Beatty is being represented in this action by the Washington Litigation Group and Democracy Defenders Action. When approached for comment by ABC News, White House spokesperson Liz Huston defended the move, stating in a written response that Trump had "stepped up and saved the old Kennedy Center."
Widespread Doubt Over Legality
The legal action follows public demonstrations against the renaming in Washington DC on 20 December 2025. The Trump administration announced last week that the centre's board had "voted unanimously" for the change, with workers swiftly altering the exterior signage.
However, Beatty is not alone in questioning the move's legality. Joe Kennedy III, a former Massachusetts congressman and grandnephew of President Kennedy, publicly challenged the renaming on social media platform X. He asserted that the centre, "named for President Kennedy by federal law," could no more be renamed than the Lincoln Memorial.
This name change represents the latest step in what Trump has termed a "take-over" of the storied institution. Since the start of his presidency, he has installed himself as chair, replaced the previously bipartisan board, and shifted the centre's programming focus towards themes of patriotism.
