*Workers removed Donald Trump‘s name from the Kennedy Center early Saturday, completing a court-ordered reversal that restored the landmark’s official identity as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The move followed a federal judge’s May 29 ruling that found the Kennedy Center board lacked authority to rename the institution after Trump. The decision also restored voting rights for congressional board members and halted plans to close the center for two years during renovations.
For Rep. Joyce Beatty, the Ohio congresswoman who challenged the renaming effort in court, the outcome represents a major victory in a battle she says was about protecting both a cultural institution and the rule of law.
Speaking with Washingtonian‘s Sylvie McNamara, Beatty described the ruling as “impactful, empowering, emotional, overwhelming, and rewarding.”
“This is bigger than me,” Beatty said. “This is about the American people. This is about the artists, the performers, the institution, and it’s about the rule of law.”
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How The Dispute Began
Beatty, who has served on the Kennedy Center board since 2019, said the controversy began during a December board meeting hosted at the Palm Beach home of board member Andrea Wynn.
According to Beatty, a proposal to rename the Kennedy Center after Trump was introduced despite not appearing on the meeting agenda. When she attempted to object, she said her microphone was muted.
“Of all the ex officios, I was the only one on that virtual meeting where they were trying to silence me,” she said.
Beatty said the vote was later characterized as unanimous even though she and other ex officio board members were not allowed to cast votes.
The incident prompted her to file a lawsuit challenging the board’s actions.
“When someone is doing something unlawful, you take it to the courts,” Beatty said.
She argued the dispute was never simply about politics.
“You can’t assume that just because you’re the President, you can break the law,” she said.
Court Victory And Removal
The judge’s ruling delivered a significant victory for Beatty and other opponents of the renaming effort.
In addition to ordering Trump’s name removed, the court restored participation rights for ex officio board members and blocked plans to shut down the Kennedy Center during an extended renovation project.
The decision ultimately led to the removal of Trump’s name from the building and related materials, restoring the institution’s original identity.
Beatty said the ruling sparked an outpouring of support from people who view the Kennedy Center as a treasured national institution.
“I cannot begin to tell you the number of people I’ve never met who have stopped me in the store or who have made a phone call saying, ‘I remember the first time I attended an event at the Kennedy Center,'” she said.
Standing Alone
Beatty also reflected on attending a later board meeting after a court order guaranteed her right to speak and participate fully.
The meeting took place at the White House, where she voiced opposition to proposals she believed violated both the law and the center’s mission.
“I was the only Black person with 41 people sitting there staring at me,” she recalled.
The experience reminded her of civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges.
“I thought of what six-year-old Ruby Bridges must have felt like when she walked into that all-white school against the odds,” Beatty said.
Asked whether Trump challenged her comments during the meeting, Beatty said he didn’t.
“He did not. But we had a look-stare at each other.”
What Comes Next
Although the legal battle over the Kennedy Center’s name appears resolved, Beatty acknowledged that challenges remain. She said the institution has faced financial uncertainty and the loss of some performers during the controversy. Still, she believes artists, donors and audiences who distanced themselves from the center may return.
“I think donors will come back,” Beatty said. “I think performers will, too.”
Beatty expressed cautious optimism about the future.
“I want to be hopeful but not naive.”
For Beatty, the removal of Trump’s name marks more than the end of a legal dispute. She hopes it signals the beginning of a new chapter in which the Kennedy Center can focus once again on its artistic mission rather than political controversy.
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