House House Democrat seeks to bar Trump from closing Kennedy Center for renovations by Ryan Mancini - 03/06/26 3:29 PM ET by Ryan Mancini - 03/06/26 3:29 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) on Friday filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to block President Trump from closing the Kennedy Center after he announced last month that it would shut down to allow for renovations. Beatty argues the judge should block Trump from closing the Kennedy Center because he could “demolish” the building while it is closed. She also argued that even if the Kennedy Center board approves the building’s closure, the performing arts center will become “a lifeless husk for two years” if it is not demolished, and that Trump would be taking the action to close it without congressional approval. That would “violate the statutory mandate to ‘maintain and administer’ the Kennedy Center as a ‘living memorial’ to” former President Kennedy, Beatty said. The preliminary injunction was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Trump has not spoken of demolishing the Kennedy Center, which he renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center. But in stating that it would close on July 4, he said construction would then begin on a “new and spectacular Entertainment Complex.” “Financing is completed, and fully in place!” Trump  wrote in a post  on his Truth Social platform. Beatty said the closure is “unfortunately reminiscent” to the demolition of the White House’s East Wing, accusing Trump of misleading Congress and the public “and brazenly destroyed the People’s house to build himself a gilded ballroom.” “The Court should not wait until the bulldozers are at the door,” she continued. “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.” She requested in closing that the court enjoin the president from closing and demolishing the Kennedy Center, cancel performances and layoff employees, but still allow for any routine maintenance, repairs and operations. White House spokesperson Liz Huston told The Hill that Democrats “neglected the Trump-Kennedy Center for years” and that the president “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,” Huston said in a statement. “Only deranged Democrats could oppose these efforts.”  Beatty in December sued to remove Trump’s name from the center after he renamed it to the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. She called the renaming a “flagrant violation” of the Constitution. She disputed the administration’s claim that the board’s vote was unanimous. Beatty said she was on the call to rename the center but was muted, preventing her from pushing “my button to voice my concern, to ask questions and certainly not to vote in support of this.” She called it “censorship.” When announcing the closure, Trump said it was the “fastest way” to have the center reach “the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur.” Add as preferred source on Google Tags Beatty Donald Trump John F. Kennedy Joyce Beatty Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More House News See All Campaign Lev Parnas jumps into Florida House race as Democrat by Sarah Davis 1 hour ago Campaign  /  1 hour ago