Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed a motion in federal court Wednesday asking a federal judge to remove President Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center and halt his plan to close the institution for two years. Beatty, who serves on the Kennedy Center board, submitted the documents – which are available to ROLLING STONE – through its legal representatives, Democracy Defenders Action and the Washington Litigation Group, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
“May the Board of the Kennedy Center—in direct contravention of applicable law—rename this hallowed memorial to John F. Kennedy after President Donald J. Trump?” the brief states in its introduction. “The answer is unequivocally: ‘No.’ By renaming the center – in violation of the law – the defendants [Donald J. Trump u. a.] violated the terms of the trust and their most basic fiduciary duties as trustees.”
Beatty, who is an ex-officio member of the board, accuses Trump of treating the board as a “no-nothing machine” – a mere approval body for his policies – and of pushing through the renaming of the institution through illegal means. “Congress was clear in 1964: The Kennedy Center bears the name ‘John F. Kennedy’ and no other,” the lawsuit says. “The Board’s decision to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump is patently unlawful.”
Legal prohibitions ignored
In addition, Congress had already expressly prohibited name changes to the institution. “In the Board’s Duties Provision, Congress provided that, effective December 2, 1983, the Trustees ‘shall ensure’ that ‘no additional memorials or plaques are designated or placed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.'”
Among other things, Beatty is seeking a permanent injunction to stop the renaming. She points out that Trump’s “renaming is directly related to artists canceling their performances, which the ability [der Institution] undermines the Center’s continued existence as a performance venue and living memorial to President Kennedy.”
Artists such as Philip Glass, Béla Fleck and Renee Fleming, a production of “Hamilton” and the Washington National Opera have canceled previously announced concerts at the Kennedy Center.
Closure as a breach of duty
In a related brief, Beatty said Trump’s planned closure of the Kennedy Center in July would “breach” the board’s duty to maintain the institution as a memorial to President Kennedy. “Turning the Kennedy Center into a lifeless shell for two years would also constitute a fundamental breach of defendants’ most basic fiduciary duties as trustees,” it said.
She accuses Trump and his allies on the board of “rushing” the decision to close the Kennedy Center without conducting an independent analysis. The announcement in February that the center would be closed after a “comprehensive ‘year-long review'” was a lie. Instead, they relied on “four reports commissioned and submitted under previous Kennedy Center leadership in 2021, 2022 and 2024.” Beatty believes the decision to close the center was in response to cancellations from musicians after Trump’s name was added.
The planned closure in July is also in focus. “It is expected to require an additional 12 months of planning, permitting and procurement work before Defendants could begin responsible construction,” the lawsuit states. “There is no reason to close the Kennedy Center soon – violating the Board’s commitment to maintaining the Center as a living memorial – long before Defendants could even begin responsible construction. The sole purpose of closing without this kind of preparation can only be an unlawful ‘demolition first, questions later’ approach that President Trump has already used with disastrous results on the East Wing of the White House – demolishing protected buildings before anyone can stop him.” Trump also admitted at a board meeting that he had announced the closure early before the board could even vote.
Beatty: “Don’t accept it”
“Donald Trump’s attempt to rename the Kennedy Center after himself is not just an act of complacency,” Rep. Beatty said in a statement. “It is an attempt to undermine our Constitution and the rule of law. Congress established the Kennedy Center by law, and only Congress can change its name. The Kennedy Center is a national institution with a long history of bipartisan support. It is not an opportunity for President Trump to build his personal brand. We will not stand for that.”
“We are confident that the court will uphold the board’s renaming decision and the much-needed renovations, which will continue as planned,” Roma Daravi, Kennedy Center vice president of public relations, said in a statement.
“The Kennedy Memorial is not affected at all by the recent renaming,” said a representative from the Trump Kennedy Center. “It remains the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.”
Several lawsuits pending
White House officials did not immediately respond to ROLLING STONE’s request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
Beatty has already filed several lawsuits related to the Kennedy Center. The first, in December, aimed to block Trump from adding his name to the institution. In early March, she filed another to prevent the two-year closure, and on March 16, the district court issued an injunction allowing her to obtain closure documents and vote at a board meeting that day. (“Despite her claims in court, Congresswoman Beatty was invited to the board meeting,” Daravi said.)
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Beatty was barred from attending board meetings. She attended the meeting on March 16, but was not allowed to vote. A source who was in the room tells Rolling Stone that Beatty “spoke on the record for three minutes, reiterating her complete and unwavering support for federal funding and the need for deferred maintenance renovations.”
Beatty’s lawyers did not immediately respond to ROLLING STONE’s request for comment regarding the Kennedy Center officials’ statements.
Bill Maher receives Mark Twain Prize
In other news from around the Kennedy Center on Thursday, it was announced that Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at a gala event on June 28 – despite previous reports that the White House had declined. An administration official tells ROLLING STONE: “These reports were false at the time of The Atlantic’s reporting, but the situation has changed following further discussions between the Trump Kennedy Center and event organizers last week.”
“For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has honored some of the greatest minds in comedy,” Daravi said in a statement. “Bill continues to influence American discourse – one politically incorrect joke at a time.”
“Thanks to the Mark Twain people: They just explained the award to me, and apparently it’s like an Emmy, except I win it,” Maher said. “I just want to say that it’s actually humbling to get anything named after a man who was kicked out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.” The ceremony will be streamed on Netflix.
