Kennedy Center Votes for Controversial Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to White House Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the renowned performing arts venue has approved a measure to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, as confirmed by the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced via a post that the board's approval was consensus, crediting "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 success and grandeur," Leavitt added.
The planned renaming is expected to be deeply divisive, notably in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an iconic landmark since its founding and christening for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Institution
Not long after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump replaced all the center's incumbent trustees and appointed loyalists in their place. The freshly appointed board later moved to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in appropriated money to finance major renovations and associated costs at the aging venue.
Original Concept
The idea for a national performing arts center originated in the 1950s. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the planned venue was named in his honor.
This report is being updated. Additional information will be added as it becomes available.
