John F. Kennedy Center Votes for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the prestigious performing arts venue has voted 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 approval was consensus, citing "the extraordinary job 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 success and grandeur," Leavitt continued.
The intended name change is likely to prove extremely contentious, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has stood as an beloved institution since its construction and christening for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Center
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump fired all the center's existing board members and installed supporters in their stead. The reconstituted board then voted to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president helped procure approximately $257 million in congressional funding to cover significant upgrades and other financial needs at the national venue.
Historical Roots
The idea for a Washington-based performing arts center originated 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 is a developing story. Further context will be added as it becomes available.
