A Democratic lawmaker filed suit against Donald Trump, seeking a court order to prevent the president’s announced plans for closing the Kennedy Center and warning that he may be planning to demolish the building.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), an ex officio member of the center’s board, filed an emergency motion in federal court in Washington, D.C. on Friday, claiming that “once the Kennedy Center implements a winddown and closure, it will be extremely difficult to revive the institution, even if the Court orders Defendants to do so later. Performances will move elsewhere, staff will depart, and the Center’s reputation will be harmed.”
It’s still unclear exactly what Trump’s plans are after the closure, scheduled for July, stirring fears that the center, which opened in 1971, will suffer the same fate as the East Wing of the White House, which the president ordered torn down last year to make room for a new ballroom.
The lawsuit named Trump, the center’s chairman, as defendant.
Beatty is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the closure of the center, and a temporary restraining order to ensure that she is allowed to participate, speak and vote at the next Kennedy Center board meeting, scheduled for March 16 at the White House. According to the lawsuit, it is at that meeting where the board, dominated by supporters of the president, is expected to vote on Trump’s plan to shut down the center for two years.
“The Court should not wait until the bulldozers are at the door. It should issue an order that preserves the status quo until the rule of law—not unilateral executive action— determines the Kennedy Center’s ultimate fate,” her lawsuit stated.
Beatty sued last year to remove Trump’s name from the center, approved at a December board meeting. Beatty said that she was present online for the meeting, but was muted and not allowed to speak. In 1964, Congress designated the center as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the center, said in a statement, “We’re confident the court will uphold the board’s decision on the name change and the desperately needed renovations which will continue as scheduled.” According to the center, all ex officio members were invited to the upcoming meeting.
Liz Huston, a White House spokesperson, said, “While the Democrats neglected the Trump-Kennedy Center for years, President Trump immediately stepped up to rescue and revitalize the institution. The newly named Trump-Kennedy Center proudly recognizes President Trump’s incredible contributions including strengthening its finances, leading major building upgrades, removing divisive woke programming, and transforming it into a welcoming destination that everyone can enjoy under his leadership. Only deranged Democrats could oppose these efforts.”
After announcing the closure of the Kennedy Center, Trump told reporters that the complex wouldn’t be torn down, but said, “I’ll be using the steel. So we’re using the structure. We’re using some of the marble, and some of the marble comes down, but when it’s open it will be brand new and really beautiful. It will be at the highest level.”
In her lawsuit, Beatty noted that the East Wing was demolished “without warning and without required regulatory approvals.”
“The same pattern is playing out here: public assurances that the current building will be preserved, followed by statements that are inconsistent with preservation, in the context of an established practice of proceeding without regulatory approval,” her lawsuit stated. The suit was filed by Democracy Defenders Action and Washington Litigation Group.
The planned closure of the Kennedy Center was announced after a series of artists canceled planned performances, including musicians and performers who objected to the name change. Meanwhile, Jean Davidson, who has been the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra since 2023, announced her departure on Friday to take a position leading the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.
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