John F. Kennedy Center Votes for Controversial Name Change to Trump-Kennedy Center, According to White House Statement.

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The governing board of the iconic performing arts venue has voted to change its name 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, citing "the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in rescuing the building."

"This promises to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur," Leavitt continued.

The planned renaming is expected to be deeply divisive, notably in Washington, D.C., where the center has served as an iconic landmark since its founding and dedication for President John F. Kennedy.

Recent History of the Institution

Soon after assuming the presidency, President Donald Trump dismissed all the center's existing board members and named allies in their positions. The freshly appointed board later moved to elect Trump chairman.

The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in federal funds to finance significant upgrades and other financial needs at the national venue.

Original Concept

The concept for a federal performing arts center was first proposed 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.

This report is being updated. More details will be published soon.