Kennedy Center Set for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per Administration Statement.
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The governing board of the iconic performing arts venue has voted to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, as confirmed by the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declared online that the board's vote was unified, crediting "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in preserving the building."
"This will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of prestige and accomplishment," Leavitt noted.
The proposed move is expected to be extremely contentious, notably in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an architectural and cultural icon since its completion and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Center
Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump fired all the center's sitting board members and installed supporters in their place. The newly constituted board subsequently voted to elect Trump chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in congressional funding to finance extensive repairs and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Historical Roots
The vision for a Washington-based performing arts center was first proposed 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 is a developing story. Further context will be published soon.
