Kennedy Center, Washington

A Democratic member of Congress has filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts the ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’.

Democrats and members of thr Kennedy family have raged against the name change, which they argue cannot be done unilaterally by the venue’s board because its name is set by federal law.

However, the Trump administration has not been observing the law, having quickly moved to add Trump’s name to the building last week shortly after the unlawful name change was announced.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, filed the lawsuit against Trump, Kennedy Center executive director Ric Grenell and other members of the board in D.C. federal court on Monday.

« Because Congress named the center by statute, changing the Kennedy Center’s name requires an act of Congress, » it says, calling the board’s vote to change the name a « flagrant violation of the rule of law. »

It refers to the virtual board meeting at which the vote took place as a « thinly-veiled sham, » citing Beatty’s allegations that she and others who opposed the change were blocked from unmuting themselves.

Other actions came shortly after the Trump move: After partnering with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for 58 years, the American College Theatre Festival is suspending its affiliation with the Kennedy Center. The organization’s national committee made the announcement via Facebook.

The statement reads, “Unfortunately, our affiliation with the Kennedy Center is no longer viable. Due to circumstances and decisions that do not align with our organization’s values, the National Committee, which includes regional leadership (regional chairs, regional playwriting chairs, regional design, technology, and management chairs, and the building opportunity through leadership and development chairs) has voted to suspend our affiliation with the Kennedy Center. We are proceeding with the eight vibrant regional conferences as planned for 2026.”

Several artists who were scheduled to perform at the Center have cancelled their events.

It seems as if the center hijacked by the Trump pirates is about to go down the drain.