John F. Kennedy Center Moves for Major Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per Administration Announcement.
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The leadership board 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 announced via a post that the board's vote was unified, attributing it to "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 success and grandeur," Leavitt noted.
The proposed move is expected to be extremely contentious, notably in Washington, D.C., where the center has stood as an architectural and cultural icon since its construction and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Venue
Not long after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump fired all the center's existing board members and appointed supporters in their stead. The reconstituted board then voted to elect Trump chairman.
The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in congressional funding to finance extensive repairs and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Original Concept
The concept for a national performing arts center originated in the 1950s. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the then-under-construction venue was named in his honor.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be added as it becomes available.