Kennedy Center Set for Significant Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center, According to White House Statement.
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The board of trustees of the prestigious performing arts venue has decided to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to a statement from the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared online that the board's decision was unanimous, citing "the tremendous efforts President Trump has done over the last year in preserving the building."
"This is destined to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of prestige and accomplishment," Leavitt noted.
The intended name change is likely to prove highly controversial, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an beloved institution since its founding and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Venue
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump fired all the center's incumbent trustees and installed allies in their place. The freshly appointed board then voted to elect Trump chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in federal funds to finance significant upgrades and other financial needs at the national venue.
Historical Roots
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 then-under-construction venue was named in his honor.
This report is being updated. More details will be added as it becomes available.
