Kennedy Center Set for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, As Stated by White House Announcement.
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The leadership board of the renowned 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, attributing it to "the tremendous efforts 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 achieve new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt added.
The planned renaming is expected to be highly controversial, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an iconic landmark since its founding and christening for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Center
Soon after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's existing board members and appointed loyalists in their stead. The reconstituted board then voted to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president later secured approximately $257 million in appropriated money to pay for major renovations and other financial needs at the aging venue.
Inception
The idea for a federal 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 christened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This report is being updated. More details will be added as it becomes available.