Democrat Joyce Beatty fights to save Kennedy Center from 'rename, shutter and gut' by Trump
WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic lawmaker Joyce Beatty on Thursday, March 26, asked a federal judge to prevent efforts to attach President Donald Trump's name to the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
In a motion filed, Beatty, an ex officio member of the center’s board, argued that Congress explicitly established the institution as a memorial solely to John F Kennedy.
‘Breach of fiduciary duty,’ filing says
Beatty’s lawyers contended that the board’s decision to incorporate Trump’s name into the center’s branding amounts to a fundamental violation of its legal obligations.
“There is no clearer or more significant breach of fiduciary duty,” the filing said, arguing that trustees are bound to preserve the center as a tribute to Kennedy and to no one else.
The Ohio Democrat first sued Trump and other board members in December, accusing them of attempting to “rename, shutter and gut” the institution.
Her legal action followed a board vote, involving members appointed by Trump to modify the center’s name and update signage to reflect the change.
Attorneys Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky argued in the latest filing that the defendants have yet to present a “coherent defense” of what they described as unlawful actions.
Statute cited to block rebranding
The motion relies heavily on the law establishing the center, which states that the building must be “designated as the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
Beatty’s legal team argued that this language makes clear Kennedy is to remain the sole namesake.
They also pointed to provisions restricting additional memorials or plaques, noting that none of the limited exceptions applies to adding Trump’s name to the façade or rebranding the institution as the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
Dispute extends to shutdown plan
Beyond the naming dispute, Beatty is seeking to block a proposal backed by Trump to shut down the center for two years for a complete rebuild.
Earlier this month, a federal judge allowed Beatty to attend the board meeting where the plan was formalised, but stopped short of granting her the right to vote on the proposed shutdown.
