House Republicans have moved forward with their plans to rename an iconic venue after American First Lady Melania Trump - and people are seriously divided.
Having somewhere named after you is a big deal, especially somewhere as historic and loved as this place, so it’s understandable that people are a little apprehensive.
The place in question is located in Washington D.C in the United States, and is already named after a very famous person who passed away, serving as a memorial to them which, of course, adds to the controversy.
It first opened its doors all the way back in September 1971 and has since welcomed performers from all over the world in dance, theatre, music and more.
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If you haven’t guessed it already, the venue we’re talking about is none other than the Kennedy Center Opera House.
On Tuesday (22 July) House Republicans proposed naming the centre after Melania for her ‘support and commitment in promoting the arts and humanities’.
The House Appropriations Committee reportedly considered an amendment to an existing bill that would call for the theatre to be renamed.
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According to The Washington Post, the measure passed 33-25 - but the amendment is now tucked into a larger bill which has not yet been approved by the full House, PEOPLE reports.
Representative Mike Simpson introduced the proposal as an amendment to a funding bill for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency.
If it went ahead, the center’s second-largest space would be called ‘First Lady Melania Trump Opera House’.
In line with first lady tradition, Melania currently serves as an honorary Kennedy Center chair, and back in February Donald Trump fired members of the Kennedy Centre’s board who were picked by Joe Biden, replacing them with his own choices.
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The board then picked Trump as the new chair.
However, a Democrat in the political subcommittee, Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, who was present at the hearing on Tuesday, called the proposal ‘divisive’.
They said: "The Republicans snuck in, I think, something that's slightly divisive, which is renaming one section of the Kennedy Center after a family member of this administration.”
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And social media users are also divided by the prospect of the change, making their views clear online.
One X (formerly Twitter) user penned: ”If it’s taxpayer funded, name it after the city or something that reflects the city’s culture. Tired of naming tax payer funded venues after corporations or people. Even for people I like.”
Others chimed in with: "No! It should stay as it is," and: "House republicans need to get back to work on actual issues and legislation."
Meanwhile, someone else questioned: “What's she done to deserve it? Genuinely curious.”
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And more social media users added: "That is ridiculous," and: “Honestly, NO."
However, others were seemingly thrilled with the idea, penning that Melania ‘deserves it’.
One user wrote: “If she truly appreciates opera, certainly," with a second adding: "This is awesome! She deserves it!"
"She has done so much for this country and is so brilliant, she deserves this!" added a third.
Topics: Melania Trump, Social Media, Donald Trump, US News, Politics
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Madison Burgess