A court brief filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty alleges that supporters of Donald Trump attempted to pressure the Kennedy Center into keeping his name by making funding conditional on the rebranding. The brief claims that a $17.5 million transfer was contingent on the name change, which could lead to furloughs for hundreds of employees if the funding is withdrawn. The Kennedy Center is currently involved in legal disputes regarding the naming rights, with a judge ruling that renaming requires congressional approval.
Key facts
- A court brief alleges Trump supporters pressured the Kennedy Center regarding naming rights.
- $17.5 million in funding was allegedly conditional on keeping Trump's name.
- The Kennedy Center cannot be renamed without congressional approval, per a judge's ruling.
- The Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation was established this spring.
- Rep. Joyce Beatty's lawyers are seeking to overturn the decision to close the venue.
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