Democratic lawmakers are contesting the legality of the Kennedy Center’s recent name change to honor President Donald Trump. On Thursday, a group of nonvoting board members, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, asserted that federal law prohibits the center from renaming itself without congressional approval.
The venue’s officers voted to rename it the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. It remains uncertain whether Trump participated in the vote. Following the announcement, workers began affixing Trump’s name to the building.
In a statement, the Democratic board members expressed their concerns, stating, “Beyond using the Kennedy Center to reward his friends and political allies, President Trump is now attempting to affix his name to yet another public institution without legal authority.” They emphasized that the center was established as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy and that any name change requires congressional action.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Kennedy family. Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece and former first lady of California, called the name change “beyond comprehension.” She remarked on social media: “It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”
There is ambiguity surrounding the legal authority of the Kennedy Center’s officers to effect this change. Critics, including Joe Kennedy III, JFK’s great-nephew, likened the situation to someone attempting to rename the Lincoln Memorial.
Adding to the controversy, Joyce Beatty claimed that she was muted during a virtual meeting where the name change was discussed, preventing her from voicing her opposition. “Each time I tried to speak, I was muted,” she stated, describing the incident as another example of the Trump administration’s attempts to evade scrutiny.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center, Roma Daravi, defended the meeting format, indicating that all members, including nonvoting members, were invited to attend in person and listen to the proceedings.
In response to the name change, Trump expressed surprise, although he has previously suggested the idea. The White House has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
The Democratic board members have vowed to hold the Trump administration accountable, labeling the vote as indicative of corruption within the administration. They remain committed to challenging the legality of the name change and ensuring that public institutions adhere to established laws.
As this situation unfolds, it raises important questions about the intersection of politics and cultural institutions, particularly regarding the authority to rename significant memorials dedicated to national figures.
