John F. Kennedy Center Set for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to White House Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the prestigious performing arts venue has approved a measure to adopt a new name the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to a statement from the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced via a post that the board's vote was unified, crediting "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in rescuing the building."
"This will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt reach new levels of prestige and accomplishment," Leavitt continued.
The intended name change is likely to prove extremely contentious, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an iconic landmark since its construction and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Center
Not long after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump replaced all the center's existing board members and installed loyalists in their stead. The freshly appointed board subsequently voted to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in congressional funding to pay for major renovations and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Original Concept
The idea for a Washington-based performing arts center began in the 1950s. Following the murder of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the planned venue was dedicated to his memory.
This is a developing story. Further context will be published soon.
