Kennedy Center Set for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center, According to White House Statement.
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The board of trustees of the iconic performing arts venue has decided to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, as confirmed by the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on social media that the board's vote was unified, attributing it to "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 grandeur and success," Leavitt added.
The planned renaming is expected to be extremely contentious, notably in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an iconic landmark since its completion and christening for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Center
Not long after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump fired all the center's incumbent trustees and named supporters in their positions. The newly constituted board later moved to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president later secured approximately $257 million in congressional funding to finance major renovations and associated costs at the national 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 then-under-construction venue was named in his honor.
This is a developing story. Further context will be published soon.
