Kennedy Center Voted To Return Trump's Name To Three Different Spots

Key Points:

• The Kennedy Center board, controlled by Donald Trump, voted to restore Trump’s name to the front facade of the complex in three forms: below the official name, as “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump,” and, after raising $100 million, as “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.”
• The board also designated the site and grounds as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza,” despite a court ruling that only Congress can authorize name changes to the Kennedy Center.
• Rep. Joyce Beatty sued to prevent the name changes, arguing the board’s actions violate a statute prohibiting additional memorials and plaques at the center and that the board is defying the court’s decision.
• The center removed Trump’s name from the facade last year, covering the area with scaffolding and a tarp for ongoing construction and repairs, but Beatty’s attorneys claim the covering is a pretext to avoid restoring the original facade.
• The board recently approved a two-year closure plan for renovations funded by $257 million in public funds, but Beatty’s team criticized the board’s analysis as insufficient and is seeking further legal discovery while the center appeals the court’s ruling.