The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which President Donald Trump filled with allies during a broad takeover earlier this year, decided Thursday (December 18) to add Trump's name to the institution, horrifying Democrats and raising questions about the legality of the change.

Washington

The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC has voted to add Donald Trump's name to the institution, renaming it the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The decision has drawn criticism from Democrats, some of whom argue the board lacks the authority to change the name without congressional approval.

A Kennedy Center spokeswoman stated the vote was unanimous, but Democratic board member Joyce Beatty disputed this, saying she was muted and unable to voice opposition. Former U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy also questioned the board's authority to make the change. Trump, who recently installed allies on the board and became its chair, expressed surprise and honor at the decision.

Kennedy Center to add 'Trump' to its name, drawing backlash

The board of Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts decided Thursday to add Donald Trump's name to the institution. The move has horrified Democrats and raised questions about the legality of the change. For decades, the institution has been seen as a living memorial to Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. But Trump, who filled the board with allies earlier this year, has been eager to put his stamp on Washington and his name on buildings. Earlier this month, he hosted the Kennedy Center Honors, the institution's flagship awards show for the arts. He referred to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center at one point from the stage. Yet on Thursday, Trump told reporters he was surprised by the board's decision. Well, I was honored by it. The board is a very distinguished board, most distinguished people in the country. And I was surprised by it and I was honored by it. You know, we're saving the building. We saved the building. The building was in such bad shape, both physically, financially, and every other way. In a statement, a Kennedy Center spokeswoman said the board, quote, voted unanimously today to name the institution the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. However, U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat and ex-officio board member, wrote on social media saying, For the record, this was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Democrats who serve on the board said it could not change the name without congressional approval. Kennedy's grandnephew, former U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy, also said the board did not have the right to change the center's name. After taking little interest in the institution during his first term, Trump launched a revamp of it shortly after returning to power. He ousted its chair, installed a new board that made him chair instead, and fired the body's longtime president. Trump has complained that the center had become run down and has worked to raise funds to make renovations.

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