Kennedy Center Votes for Controversial Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Per White House Announcement.
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The board of trustees of the prestigious performing arts venue has decided to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, per an announcement by the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared online that the board's approval was consensus, crediting "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 attain new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt continued.
The proposed move is shaping up as extremely contentious, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an beloved institution since its founding and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Center
Not long after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's incumbent trustees and appointed allies in their place. The reconstituted board later moved to name Trump the chairman.
The president later secured approximately $257 million in congressional funding to pay for major renovations and associated costs at the historic venue.
Historical Roots
The vision for a national performing arts center began in the 1950s. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the planned venue was named in his honor.
This is a developing story. More details will be published soon.
