Kennedy Center Moves for Significant Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Announcement.
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The governing board of the prestigious performing arts venue has approved a measure 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 preserving the building."
"This is destined to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt reach new levels of success and grandeur," Leavitt continued.
The planned renaming is likely to prove deeply divisive, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an architectural and cultural icon since its completion and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.
Context of the Center
Shortly after beginning his term, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's existing board members and installed supporters in their place. The reconstituted board then voted to name Trump the chairman.
The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in federal funds to pay for extensive repairs and operational expenses at the historic venue.
Historical Roots
The vision for a federal 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 named in his honor.
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