John F. Kennedy Center Votes for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the renowned performing arts venue has voted to change its name the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to a statement from the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declared online that the board's approval was consensus, crediting "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in rescuing the building."
"This promises to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt noted.
The intended name change is expected to be highly controversial, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an iconic landmark since its construction and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Background of the Center
Shortly after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump replaced all the center's sitting board members and installed supporters in their place. The newly constituted board subsequently voted to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in federal funds to pay for extensive repairs and operational expenses at the national venue.
Historical Roots
The vision for a Washington-based performing arts center was first proposed in the 1950s. Following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the then-under-construction venue was named in his honor.
This is a developing story. Further context will be provided shortly.
