CELEBRITY
BREAKING: Congresswoman Joyce Beatty made a defiant stand for historical preservation in December 2025 by filing a federal lawsuit to block the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that the center’s board of trustees lacked the statutory authority to alter a name established by federal law,
BREAKING: Congresswoman Joyce Beatty made a defiant stand for historical preservation in December 2025 by filing a federal lawsuit to block the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that the center’s board of trustees lacked the statutory authority to alter a name established by federal law,
asserting that such a change rests solely within the power of Congress. Beatty, a member of the center’s board, characterized the renaming process as a procedural overreach, alleging that dissenting voices were silenced during the vote.
The controversy intensified after the White House installed new branding and signage on the iconic “living memorial” just days before the lawsuit was filed. By seeking a court order to restore the original name and remove the Trump branding, Beatty’s lawsuit underscores a profound clash over presidential legacy and the sanctity of national institutions.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate regarding executive influence over federal landmarks and the legislative safeguards designed to protect America’s cultural heritage from unilateral political revision.