Politics
Lawmaker asks federal court to block Kennedy Center from adding Trump's name to building
Rep. Joyce Beatty filed an emergency motion alleging that the board's vote to inscribe Donald Trump's name on the facade violates a prior court order.
The short version
- Rep. Joyce Beatty requested an emergency federal court order to stop the Kennedy Center from inscribing Donald Trump's name on its exterior and renaming its front plaza.
- The arts venue's board had approved adding inscriptions crediting Trump for restoration and fundraising, contingent on legal proceedings.
- The Kennedy Center agreed to delay any engraving until at least Sept. 8 to permit both sides to present legal arguments in court.
Key facts
- Rep. Joyce Beatty filed an emergency request in federal court to prevent the Kennedy Center from adding President Donald Trump's name to the venue's exterior.[ABC News]
- The Kennedy Center's board voted to inscribe a phrase recognizing Trump's role in restoration, as well as an additional inscription and plaza renaming if a fund reaches $100 million.[ABC News]
- U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper previously ruled in May that placing Trump's name on the building was illegal under the 1964 law establishing the venue as a memorial solely to John F. Kennedy, leading to the name's removal in June.[ABC News]
- The Kennedy Center agreed not to attempt engraving the name before Sept. 8 to allow time for legal arguments.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the federal court will determine that the board's new resolution violates the earlier ruling prohibiting external memorials to anyone other than John F. Kennedy.[ABC News]