John F. Kennedy Center Set for Controversial Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per Administration Announcement.

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The governing board of the renowned performing arts venue has decided to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, per an announcement by the White House.

White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced via a post that the board's decision was unanimous, attributing it to "the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building."

"This is destined to be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt reach new levels of grandeur and success," Leavitt noted.

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

Recent History of the Institution

Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump fired all the center's sitting board members and appointed allies in their place. The reconstituted board subsequently voted to name Trump the chairman.

The president was instrumental in securing approximately $257 million in appropriated money to finance significant upgrades and associated costs at the aging venue.

Original Concept

The idea for a Washington-based performing arts center was first proposed in the 1950s. Following the murder of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the then-under-construction venue was dedicated to his memory.

This is a developing story. Additional information will be published soon.