John F. Kennedy Center Votes for Controversial Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per Administration Announcement.
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The leadership board of the prestigious performing arts venue has voted to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, as confirmed 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 rescuing the building."
"This will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur," Leavitt noted.
The planned renaming is expected to be extremely contentious, particularly in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an iconic landmark since its completion and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Center
Not long after beginning his term, President Donald Trump replaced all the center's existing board members and appointed allies in their place. The newly constituted board subsequently voted to appoint Trump as chairman.
The president later secured approximately $257 million in federal funds to pay for major renovations and operational expenses at the national venue.
Original Concept
The vision for a federal 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.
Further details are emerging. Additional information will be added as it becomes available.
