John F. Kennedy Center Votes for Controversial Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Per Administration Statement.
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The governing board of the iconic performing arts venue has voted to change its 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, attributing it to "the tremendous efforts 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 added.
The planned renaming is shaping up as extremely contentious, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has been an architectural and cultural icon since its construction and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Recent History of the Institution
Shortly after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump fired all the center's existing board members and named allies in their stead. The freshly appointed board later moved to name Trump the chairman.
The president later secured approximately $257 million in appropriated money to finance extensive repairs and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Inception
The vision for a Washington-based performing arts center began in the 1950s. Following the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the then-under-construction venue was christened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Further details are emerging. Additional information will be published soon.
