United States President Donald Trump has been hit with a legal challenge following the controversial rebranding of a national cultural institution. A lawsuit filed on Tuesday, December 23, accuses the President of unlawfully adding his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Lawsuit Alleges Flouting of Law for "Vanity"
The legal action, initiated by Ohio Democrat Joyce Beatty, claims that Trump and his appointees bypassed required Congressional approval to satisfy the President's "vanity." The iconic center's signage now reads: "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For the Performing Arts."
The institution announced the change on its newly rebranded social media account on platform X, stating, "Today, we proudly unveil the updated exterior designation – honoring the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the enduring legacy of John F. Kennedy." This move came after Trump appointed himself as the board chairman earlier in the year and replaced most members, labelling the previous board "too woke." Interestingly, despite these actions, Trump publicly expressed surprise at the renaming.
Opposition Cites Legal Overreach and Family Outrage
The decision has sparked significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers and members of the Kennedy family, with a notable exception being Trump's own Health Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr.
Critics argue that the authority to rename the center rests solely with the US Congress. Ray Smock, a former House historian, emphasized in an email, "The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law. The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws."
Congresswoman Beatty has further alleged that the board vote claiming the change was "unanimous" was not conducted fairly, as she was muted during the proceedings.
The Kennedy family's disapproval has been vocal and vivid. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of the late president, vowed on social media to personally remove Trump's name from the building once his term concludes. "Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!" she posted on X.
Justification and Lasting Controversy
Defending the name addition, a spokeswoman for the center, Roma Daravi, stated last week that President Trump "saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction." This justification, however, has done little to quell the political and legal storm.
The lawsuit and the fierce opposition highlight a deep conflict over legacy, legal procedure, and presidential authority. The case sets the stage for a protracted battle over the name of one of America's most famous performing arts venues, intertwining cultural heritage with contemporary political rivalry.
