President Donald Trump faces a federal lawsuit filed on December 22, 2025, over the controversial renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include his own name. The suit, brought by U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex officio member of the center's board, accuses Trump and his appointees of illegally altering the institution's name without congressional approval. The action follows a December 18, 2025, board vote—held during a virtual meeting—that changed the official title to "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," with signage bearing Trump's name added to the building facade the next day.
The Kennedy Center was established by congressional statute in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who championed its creation in the early 1960s as the National Cultural Center before his 1963 assassination. The lawsuit argues that any change to the name requires an act of Congress, as the center's designation is enshrined in federal law to preserve its nonpartisan status as a national hub for music, dance, and theater. Beatty claims she was muted when attempting to voice objections during the board meeting, and she seeks a court order to declare the vote invalid, remove all references to Trump, and protect future board proceedings from similar actions.
Democrats and members of the Kennedy family have sharply criticized the move, calling it an affront to the center's intended purpose as a unifying cultural institution for all Americans. While not all Kennedy relatives opposed it—Trump's Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has remained silent—several expressed outrage over what they view as an attempt to overshadow JFK's legacy. The renaming is described in the suit as part of a broader pattern of efforts by Trump and his allies to reshape Washington landmarks in his image, including plans to rename other federal entities, overhaul White House facilities, and even announce a "Trump-class" battleship for the Navy.
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A center spokeswoman, Roma Daravi, defended the addition of Trump's name, stating it recognized his role in "saving the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction" since he assumed chairmanship in February 2025. However, critics point out that ticket sales have declined significantly and numerous artists have boycotted performances at the venue during this period. The lawsuit names several prominent board members appointed under Trump, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, country singer Lee Greenwood, and Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
The case highlights deep divisions over executive authority versus congressional oversight in managing federally designated cultural institutions. Legal experts emphasize that the outcome could set important precedents regarding the permanence of memorials established by Congress. As the litigation proceeds in federal court, it underscores ongoing political tensions in the nation's capital surrounding the legacy of one president and the influence of another.
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