Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) described a contentious virtual exchange with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, stating he had a "tantrum" after losing a legal battle to have his name associated with the Kennedy Center.
Beatty, a member of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, recounted the incident on MS NOW’s “The Weeknight,” calling it "the most unprofessional thing that I have ever witnessed or been a part of."
According to Beatty, Trump engaged in name-calling, accusing her of being an obstructionist and labeling her "dumb" and "incompetent." Beatty stated she responded in kind, telling him, "I know you’re incompetent."
Trump reportedly lashed out at Beatty during the board meeting regarding renovations to the venue. He has previously stated that renovations would not proceed unless his name was attached to the John F. Kennedy memorial.
One source familiar with the meeting described the interaction as "fucking crazy."
Beatty also recounted Trump’s claim that she would be held responsible if something fell from the ceiling and caused injury. She countered by referencing ongoing global issues such as war and starvation, and brought up Trump's multiple bankruptcies, stating, "he had more bankruptcies than anybody in the room."
In contrast to Beatty's account, the White House issued a statement claiming, "For decades, Democrats let the Kennedy Center rot as water damage spread, infrastructure crumbled, and a national treasure fell apart under their watch." The statement added that Trump "will restore the Kennedy Center and make it the finest performing arts facility in the world."
Beatty disputed Trump's assertion on Truth Social that the Kennedy Center board voted nearly unanimously to close the venue immediately. She stated she did not vote to close the center and that other board members did not support the language Trump used in his post. She suggested Trump made the conflict personal because her name is on a lawsuit seeking to prevent him from renaming the center, telling CNN, "He picked the wrong person."
Beatty characterized Trump's behavior as immature and an attempt to bully and intimidate those who do not agree with his desire to make the center his "vanity project."