'Everything is a lie': Jimmy Kimmel mocks Trump's Kennedy Center name change vote
A unanimous vote to change the name of The Kennedy Center has been mocked by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
The 58-year-old observed two major problems with Donald Trump's play to have the center renamed. The board agreed unanimously to change the name of the building from The Kennedy Center to The Trump Kennedy Center. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt says the reason for the change is to credit "the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building".
Her statement also congratulated president John F. Kennedy, with Leavitt writing the name change "will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur".
The controversial change, which Trump says he is "surprised" by after receiving the news, means Trump's name will be placed onto the building.
Talk show host Kimmel observed the board who passed the name change ruling were selected by Trump, and that The Kennedy Center had been in sharp decline ever since Trump's team took over.
Kimmel said, "This is something he's been angling for. Trump said he was 'surprised and honored' by this unanimous vote from the distinguished board. What he did not mention is that he appointed every member of the distinguished board and made himself chairman and now he's putting his name on the building."
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center vice president of public relations, said, "The unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction." Kimmel countered, saying Trump had merely saved the building from himself.
The talk show host said, "Again, not mentioning the chairman was threatening to destroy the building. He saved it from himself and now his name is going to be on it. And as for that claim about financial ruin, since he took the reins at the Kennedy Center, ticket sales and subscriptions have plummeted. Everything is a lie."
Kimmel joked Trump could have his eyes on the Lincoln Memorial next and asked, "Why stop there? Why not just rename the whole town? Washington D.T."