Overview
- Rep. Joyce Beatty filed suit in the U.S. District Court for D.C., naming President Donald Trump, Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell and trustees, and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.
- The White House said the board voted unanimously to add Trump’s name, and workers installed new exterior lettering and updated digital branding to reflect the change.
- The complaint cites 20 U.S.C. §§ 76q and 76j to argue the board lacks authority to rename a national memorial, and requests the court void the vote and order removal of physical and digital signage.
- Beatty alleges she was muted during the meeting and prevented from speaking or voting, while Grenell responded that ex officio members do not vote.
- Members of the Kennedy family publicly condemned the move, at least one artist canceled a scheduled performance, and Trump’s team maintains he saved the institution and supports the renaming.