Kennedy Center Set for Major Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to Administration Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the renowned 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 vote was unified, crediting "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building."
"This is destined to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt reach new levels of success and grandeur," Leavitt continued.
The intended name change is shaping up as deeply divisive, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has stood as an beloved institution since its construction and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Venue
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's existing board members and appointed allies in their stead. The freshly appointed board then voted to elect Trump chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in federal funds to pay for extensive repairs and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Historical Roots
The vision for a federal performing arts center was first proposed in the 1950s. Following the murder 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.
