The Kennedy Center. AFP Yonhap NewsThe name of the Kennedy Center, a representative cultural and performing arts venue in Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, has been changed to "Trump-Kennedy Center" after President Donald Trump.

In a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account on the 18th (local time), White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt wrote, "I just heard that the greatly respected board of the Kennedy Center, composed of some of the most accomplished people in all walks of life worldwide, unanimously voted to change the name of the Kennedy Center to Trump-Kennedy Center."

She explained the reason for the name change as "due to the incredible achievements President Trump has made over the past year to save this building," adding, "not just from a rebuilding perspective, but financially and in terms of reputation."

Leavitt continued, "Congratulations to President Trump and, likewise, to President Kennedy. This is because it will be a truly great team for a long time in the future. This building will undoubtedly achieve new levels of success and dignity."

In response, President Trump told reporters at a signing ceremony for an executive order at the White House that day, "I was surprised. It's an honor," adding, "One of the very distinguished board members proposed it, and they unanimously approved." President Trump also serves as the current chairman of the Kennedy Center.

He further stated, "We saved the building. It was in bad shape physically, financially, in every way, but now it's very solid and strong," and added, "We've secured a lot of funding from Congress and others."

Previously, the official name of the Kennedy Center was the "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts." Shortly after President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Congress passed a bill in his memory, and then-President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law, thus establishing the "Kennedy Center."

Upon taking office for his second term in January of this year, President Trump replaced the existing board of the Kennedy Center as part of a "culture war" against progressive factions and took on the role of chairman himself.

Therefore, the name change on this day was resolved by the board appointed by President Trump himself, and significant backlash is anticipated.

According to the Associated Press, when a pro-Trump Republican U.S. Representative introduced a bill in July to change the center's name to the "Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts," Maria Shriver, niece of the late President Kennedy, criticized it on social media as "insane."