Kennedy Center Moves for Significant Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Announcement.
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The governing board of the prestigious performing arts venue has voted to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, per an announcement by the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on social media that the board's approval was consensus, attributing it to "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in preserving the building."
"This is destined to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt achieve new levels of prestige and accomplishment," Leavitt added.
The planned renaming is likely to prove highly controversial, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an architectural and cultural icon since its founding and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Venue
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump fired all the center's sitting board members and named supporters in their positions. The newly constituted board later moved to elect Trump chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in congressional funding to cover significant upgrades and operational expenses at the aging venue.
Original Concept
The idea for a national performing arts center was first proposed in the 1950s. Following the murder of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the future venue was named in his honor.
This report is being updated. Additional information will be published soon.
