Kennedy Center Moves for Controversial Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to Administration Statement.
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The governing board of the prestigious performing arts venue has voted to adopt a new name the Trump-Kennedy Center, per an announcement by the White House.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced via a post that the board's decision was unanimous, 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 achieve new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt added.
The planned renaming is likely to prove extremely contentious, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an iconic landmark since its founding and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Background of the Center
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump fired all the center's existing board members and appointed loyalists in their positions. The freshly appointed board later moved to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in appropriated money to finance major renovations and associated costs at the national venue.
Historical Roots
The idea for a Washington-based performing arts center originated in the 1950s. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the future venue was christened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be added as it becomes available.
