Overview
- Beatty filed in the U.S. District Court for D.C., naming President Trump, Richard Grenell and the Kennedy Center trustees, and alleging she was muted during the meeting that approved the change.
- The complaint contends only Congress can alter the center’s statutory name and cites provisions restricting additional memorials and any exterior acknowledgments.
- The suit seeks to void the vote, enjoin further use of the Trump-branded name, and order removal of new physical signage and digital references added last week.
- The vote followed a 2025 board overhaul in which Trump removed prior appointees, installed allies, became chair, and elevated Grenell to lead the institution.
- Public and operational pushback persists as major ticket platforms still list the venue as the Kennedy Center and some performers cancel, while a Maryland lawmaker introduced bills to nullify the vote and prohibit honoring a sitting president on federal property.