Kennedy Center Votes for Controversial Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to Administration Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the prestigious performing arts venue has decided to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, as confirmed by the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on social media that the board's decision was unanimous, citing "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building."
"This will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt reach new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt noted.
The intended name change is shaping up as highly controversial, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has stood as an architectural and cultural icon since its construction and christening for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Center
Not long after taking office, President Donald Trump fired all the center's incumbent trustees and installed loyalists in their positions. The newly constituted board later moved to name Trump the chairman.
The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in congressional funding to finance significant upgrades and other financial needs at the historic venue.
Inception
The vision for a national performing arts center began in the 1950s. Following the murder of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the then-under-construction venue was christened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Further details are emerging. More details will be published soon.