Kennedy Center Board Weighs Adding Trump's Name to Exterior
Kennedy Center board documents propose adding Trump's name to the building's exterior, citing his role in its fiscal rescue, as a lawsuit seeks to block the move.
The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees is considering a proposal to inscribe President Donald Trump's name on the exterior of the building, according to a new court filing in a lawsuit seeking to prevent the addition.
The filing was submitted by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, an ex-officio member of the board who has led efforts to block the president's name from appearing on the facility. Beatty said she was alerting the court to the proposal because it could affect a pending decision.
In a proposed resolution, the board stated that without "appropriate recognition," it is unlikely Trump would provide oversight of the main building's renovation and lead the center's fiscal rescue. The document outlines ten options for adding the president's name to the exterior.
Among the proposed inscriptions are "Renovation and endowment overseen by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund" and "With Gratitude for Support from President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund." One option specifically calls for Trump's name to be placed in marble beneath the center's name.
Beatty's filing includes two draft resolutions expected to be considered at a board meeting scheduled for Tuesday. One is a draft vote to shut the center down, asserting the building is unsafe for occupancy. According to the filing, that assertion incorrectly cites a consulting group's finding, which expressly disclaimed providing any such opinion.
The other document describes the center as facing dire financial straits. The proposals come as the institution confronts concerns about its solvency.