John F. Kennedy Center Moves for Significant Renaming to Trump-Kennedy Center, Per White House Statement.

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The leadership board of the renowned performing arts venue has decided to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to a statement from the White House.

White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced via a post that the board's approval was consensus, crediting "the extraordinary job President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building."

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

The intended name change is likely to prove deeply divisive, especially in Washington, D.C., where the center has stood as an beloved institution since its founding and original naming for President John F. Kennedy.

Recent History of the Center

Shortly after beginning his term, President Donald Trump fired all the center's sitting board members and named allies in their positions. The freshly appointed board later moved to appoint Trump as chairman.

The president later secured approximately $257 million in appropriated money to finance significant upgrades and operational expenses at the historic venue.

Historical Roots

The concept for a national performing arts center originated in the 1950s. Following the murder of President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, in 1963, the planned venue was christened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

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