Kennedy Center Set for Controversial Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Per Administration Announcement.
Image Source
The board of trustees of the renowned performing arts venue has voted to change its name 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, attributing it to "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 achieve new levels of prestige and accomplishment," Leavitt continued.
The intended name change is likely to prove highly controversial, notably in Washington, D.C., where the center has stood as an iconic landmark since its construction and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Venue
Soon after beginning his term, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's existing board members and appointed allies in their stead. The newly constituted board later moved to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in congressional funding to finance significant upgrades and other financial needs at the national venue.
Inception
The vision for a Washington-based performing arts center was first proposed in the 1950s. Following the murder of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the then-under-construction venue was dedicated to his memory.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be added as it becomes available.
