Donald Trump is counting on a power play to avoid accountability for the Kennedy Center closure — but a court battle could bring his alleged misdeeds to light.
Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit in December 2025 demanding the removal of the “Donald J. Trump” signage from the performing arts center.
The Democratic congresswoman amended her complaint in March to block Trump from closing the complex for a $257 million renovation.
The living memorial that honored John F. Kennedy for over 50 years closed in September.
The center is still open with limited hours, according to events on their website. But Trump claims severe damage inside has become a safety hazard.
This month, it was revealed that Trump ordered staff to remove certain art exhibits. Some pieces will be returned to their place of origin while others have been sold.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper will determine whether the Center will remain closed. A 163-page plan uncovered through the discovery process will influence his ruling.
The deadline for the materials with “narrowly tailored redactions” is October 14. Beatty will have until Oct. 19 to respond.
However, Trump does not want Beatty, or anyone, for that matter, to access the files.
On Oct. 5, the ex officio board member filed a motion challenging Trump’s attempt to conceal his communication with the Center’s governing body under executive privilege.
“By all accounts, Trump has personally dictated the goings-on at the Kennedy Center in his capacity as Chairman… As Chairman, Trump is the one running the show,” Beatty’s filing states.
The representative called the Center’s renovation closure a unilateral decision made by the Republican politician.
The board argues that the closure and upgrades, including restoring Trump’s name, will prevent the Center from going bankrupt.
The president’s name was removed in June. He hand-selected the board members and installed himself as Chairman last year.
The filing states, “The Department now refuses to provide any documents held by the Kennedy Center, even touching on communications between the Chairman and management and intends to block all inquiry into those communications in depositions.”
As chairman, “His decisions lie at the heart of that board’s actions which, in turn, are the subject matter of this case. Allowing Defendants to hide behind this unwarranted assertion of privilege would obstruct the search for the truth.”
Privilege protects sensitive executive branch deliberations, the president, and White House advisers.
Trump’s power play casts more doubt about his Kennedy Center takeover.
“Obviously something there that’s incriminating,” said one person on Threads under a Washington Sun post about the case.
A second reaction read, “If trump and his corrupt DoJ don’t have anything to hide, why are they hiding stuff?”
A third response stated, “There..are..no…executive or state secrets at Kennedy center. Absurd.”
Outrage grew over Trump using his so-called “privilege” to keep information hidden.
One explanation read, “Trump is the chairman of the board. All actions and communications he has with members are of his capacity in that job role and Not his role as president of the united states and should not fall under executive privilege nor presidential immunity.”
Trump, known for his retribution agenda, lashed out at Cooper and his wife, Amy Jeffress, when the judge issued an injunction to block the facility’s closure.
To belittle Cooper, Trump ranted on Truth Social that the “Trump-hating judge wants to keep it open because his wife probably told him to do so!”
The removal of his name and a fight to prevent his two-year closure plans have people convinced that Trump is desperate for a win — one that could see him hijack other existing memorials.
MS Now reported that White House aides have compiled a list of existing monuments that could potentially bear the name “Donald J. Trump.”
Among those is the notable Ford’s Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was fatally wounded in 1865.
Trump denied the claim, but his sweeping changes to the White House and Washington, D.C., suggest anything is possible.
BREAKING A federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center’s Trump-installed board to UNSEAL the 163-page report (with redactions) on the $250M+ renovation plan and two year closure. The Board also must unseal a related Powerpoint. Doc https://t.co/4jEMhCr2FB https://t.co/9e5GbVcMzc
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) October 7, 2026
