Democratic US Representative Joyce Beatty has filed a lawsuit seeking to remove President Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Last week, the board of the Kennedy Center—filled with Trump's allies—voted to rename the performing arts center the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Beatty is among several Democratic lawmakers designated as board members by US law. She argues that the name change was illegal as renaming requires an act of Congress.
The lawsuit states Beatty attempted to voice opposition during a call when the board met to discuss the renaming, but was muted.
She asserts that Congress intended for the center to remain a living memorial to former President Kennedy.
[In scenes more reminiscent of authoritarian regimes than the American republic], the sitting President and his handpicked loyalists renamed this storied center after President Trump, the lawsuit claims.
The White House, however, stated that Trump had stepped up to save the Kennedy Center by enhancing its finances, modernizing the venue, and terminating divisive programming. As a result, the board unanimously voted for the name change—a decision viewed as historic for the center.
Following this renaming, Trump's name was added to the building's exterior, and the center's website reflected the new branding.
This decision sparked intense criticism, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has been a significant landmark since its establishment and was originally named to honor JFK.
Construction for the center began in the 1950s, and it was named for Kennedy following his assassination in 1963. Trump's influence on the board became evident early in his presidency when he replaced several members with loyalists.
Critics, including members of the Kennedy family, have voiced their displeasure regarding the renaming. Joe Kennedy III, a former House member and grandnephew of JFK, asserted that the Kennedy Center is a living memorial and cannot legally be renamed.
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