Kennedy Center Ex-Officio Board Members have released a statement regarding President Trump’s illegal effort to rename the performing arts center.

In a statement, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), House Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03) said, “Beyond using the Kennedy Center to reward his friends and political allies, President Trump is now attempting to affix his name to yet another public institution without legal authority. Federal law established the Center as a memorial to President Kennedy and prohibits changing its name without Congressional action. At today’s meeting, a sitting Member of Congress was muted, and participants were prevented from speaking—actions that reflect a troubling lack of transparency and respect for the rule of law. This whole process displays the corruption that permeates the entire Trump Administration, and as ex-officio members of the Kennedy Center Board, we will be unwavering in our commitment to holding this Administration accountable.”

The statement by the democratic leaders comes as Executive Director Richard Grenell boasted about the unanimous vote and stated that the arts should be bipartisan. He said, “The Trump Kennedy Center shows a bipartisan commitment to the Arts.” However, the current board is made up entirely by Republicans and Trump allies, all of whom the President installed.

Additionally, Grenell responded to Congresswoman Beatty’s claims that she was muted and said, “You are an ex-officio. No ex-officios ever get to vote. The vote was unanimous.”

According to the original laws that were outlined when the Kennedy Center was built, the “U.S. code states that no new ‘memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.’”

In order for the name of the Kennedy Center to be changed, there would need to be approval from Congress. Earlier this year, House Republicans introduced at least one bill to rename the center in Trump’s honor but it has not been passed into law as of yet.

The Kennedy Center has been embroiled in controversy since Trump’s takeover early into his new term. The Center has recorded low ticket sales and many artists have been kicked out. The lone spotlight has been the FIFA World Cup draw which was a disorganized, overlong, and confusing affair.

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