Kennedy Center Moves for Major Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Statement.
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The leadership board of the prestigious performing arts venue has voted to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to a statement from the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declared online that the board's vote was unified, attributing it to "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 achieve new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt added.
The planned renaming is shaping up as deeply divisive, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an iconic landmark since its completion and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Background of the Venue
Not long after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's sitting board members and installed loyalists in their stead. The freshly appointed board then voted to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in federal funds to finance major renovations and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Original Concept
The idea for a federal performing arts center originated in the 1950s. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the future venue was named in his honor.
This is a developing story. Further context will be provided shortly.
