Kennedy Center Moves for Significant Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to Administration Statement.
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The leadership board of the prestigious performing arts venue has voted to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, per an announcement by the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared online that the board's vote was unified, attributing it to "the unbelievable work 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 reach new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt noted.
The intended name change is likely to prove extremely contentious, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an architectural and cultural icon since its founding and dedication for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Center
Not long after taking office, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's sitting board members and installed allies in their stead. The reconstituted board later moved to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president later secured approximately $257 million in congressional funding to finance significant upgrades and associated costs at the national venue.
Historical Roots
The concept for a Washington-based performing arts center began in the 1950s. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the planned venue was christened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be provided shortly.
