President Donald J. Trump was sued on Monday, December 22, 2025 by Representative Joyce Beatty (D‑Ohio) over his name being added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, sparking widespread legal and political controversy.
Beatty, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, naming Trump, the board members, and executives as defendants.
She argued that the board lacked legal authority to change the center’s name because it was established by federal law and can only be renamed through an act of Congress.
The controversy began on December 18, when the board voted to rename the institution “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” New exterior signage reflecting the change was installed on December 19, 2025.
The lawsuit claims Beatty was prevented from speaking during the board meeting and seeks a judicial order declaring the renaming unlawful, restoring the original name, and stopping further use of the new name until Congress approves any change.
The Kennedy Center, created by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, has its name codified in federal law.
Legal experts and lawmakers have emphasized that only Congress has the authority to rename it.
READ ALSO: Trump Signals Hard Line, Urges Maduro to Step Down
Critics describe the renaming as a violation of that statute and an inappropriate politicization of a federal memorial.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, members of the Kennedy family, and some artists, with a few performances reportedly canceled in protest.
Supporters defended the decision, citing Trump’s leadership role and financial contributions to the institution, though opponents argue it undermines the established rules governing federal memorials.
As of December 23, 2025, the lawsuit remains pending, setting the stage for a legal battle over the limits of board authority and congressional oversight in naming national cultural institutions.