House Democrat sues to stop "Trump-Kennedy Center" renaming
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Workers update the signage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to include President Trump's name on Dec. 19. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A Democratic member of Congress filed a lawsuit Monday aimed at stopping the Trump administration from renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts the "Trump-Kennedy Center."
Why it matters: Democrats have raged against the name change, which they argue cannot be done unilaterally by the venue's board because its name is set by federal law.
- The administration has been defiant, however, quickly moving to add President Trump's name to the building last week shortly after the name change was announced.
- It's part of a wide-reaching effort by Trump to affix his name to as many government buildings and initiatives as possible, including most recently a new class of warships.
Driving the news: Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, filed the lawsuit against Trump, Kennedy Center executive director Ric Grenell and other members of the board in D.C. federal court on Monday.
- "Because Congress named the center by statute, changing the Kennedy Center's name requires an act of Congress," it says, calling the board's vote to change the name a "flagrant violation of the rule of law."
- It refers to the virtual board meeting at which the vote took place as a "thinly-veiled sham," citing Beatty's allegations that she and others who opposed the change were blocked from unmuting themselves.
The other side: "After years of neglect by Democrats, President Trump stepped up and saved the old Kennedy Center by strengthening its finances, modernizing the building, and ending divisive woke programming," said White House spokesperson Liz Huston.
- "As a result, the Board of the Kennedy Center voted unanimously to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center — a historic move that marks a new era of success, prestige, and restored grandeur for one of America's most iconic cultural institutions."
Between the lines: The lawsuit seeks a declaration from the court that the board "violated federal law," which would nullify the vote and revert the name back to the John F. Kennedy Center.
- Beatty is also asking the court to order any renamed signage to be removed and to block the board from attempting to rename the building going forward.
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' Monday evening request for comment.
Go deeper: JFK's family erupts over "Trump-Kennedy Center" renaming plan
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a response from the White House.
