Kennedy Center Votes for Major Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Statement.
Image Source
The board of trustees of the prestigious performing arts venue has decided to change its name the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to a statement from the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced via a post that the board's decision was unanimous, attributing it to "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building."
"This promises to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt achieve new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt continued.
The planned renaming is likely to prove highly controversial, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an iconic landmark since its founding and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Institution
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump replaced all the center's sitting board members and installed loyalists in their place. The reconstituted board subsequently voted to name Trump the chairman.
The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in congressional funding to cover extensive repairs and operational expenses at the national venue.
Inception
The idea for a Washington-based performing arts center was first proposed in the 1950s. Following the tragic death 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 report is being updated. Further context will be provided shortly.
