President Donald Trump on Friday posted images of stone armrest samples and a short message that hinted at another round of big changes for the Kennedy Center.
βPotential Marble armrests for the seating at The Trump Kennedy Center. Unlike anything ever done or seen before!β he wrote, sharing pictures that show hard white stone blocks shaped like theater armrests.
The images were posted on his social feed and came after his allies on the center board moved fast to add his name to the building. The samples look more like countertop swatches than theater fittings, which only added to the public surprise and online jokes.
The naming move itself was made by a board that Mr. Trump installed after he replaced the center leadership earlier this year. The vote to add his name drew quick criticism from lawmakers and some board members who said they were not given a real chance to vote no.
Since Mr. Trump began reshaping the center, several artists and groups have pulled back from scheduled shows. Some performers and managers said they could not take part while the center was being run as a political project, and critics have accused the new leadership of favoring friends and allies.
Congress has set aside more than 250 million dollars for renovations at the center, money that the White House says will pay for new seats and building work. Those funds have helped speed plans for a broad redesign even as questions rise about who will be allowed to perform there.
The proposed marble touches follow a pattern seen at the White House under Mr. Trump where new stone and gold details have been added to rooms and gardens. Those changes have been controversial and have drawn attention from decorators and critics alike.
Not everyone is taking the armrest idea lightly. Several members of the Kennedy family have spoken out against the renaming and the new direction for the center. βIt makes my blood boil. Itβs so ridiculous, so petty, so small-minded,β Maria Shriver wrote about the move. βCan we not see what is happening here? Cβmon, my fellow Americans! Wake up!β
Mr. Trump has also used his social feed to ask followers if he should try a full time role as host or emcee for center events. His appearance as host at the recent honors show drew low television ratings and a round of comment about whether the stunt helped or hurt the program.
Legal experts note that the Kennedy Center is a federal memorial and that any official renaming may require action by Congress. Lawmakers and lawyers are now watching closely to see whether the board vote will stand or face formal challenge.
Images of the stone armrest samples have become a flash point in a wider dispute over control of the Kennedy Center. Supporters say the changes are part of a planned renovation paid for with congressional funds, while critics contend the makeover shows a politicized takeover of a public cultural institution. Legal reviews and possible congressional action are underway, and the board vote to rename the center could still face formal challenges.
Featured image via YouTube screengrabΒ
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