Workers are removing Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. This follows a decision by a federal appeals court which denied a last-minute appeal to retain Trump’s name on the building. Trump’s name was added after a unanimous board vote in December.
Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana has spoken out against naming buildings after living public officials. He has proposed a rule to prevent such practices. This follows President Trump’s efforts to rename the Kennedy Center and other federal buildings after himself.
Kennedy expressed that public officials should not use public funds for self-promotion. “The White House sees it differently, but … you can’t spend public money to … promote yourself,” Kennedy stated during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” He advocated for barring politicians from having buildings named after them while they are alive.
“I may end up with a sombrero on my head, but I also think we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him when he’s alive,” Kennedy jested.
In recent times, Trump has attempted to rename several buildings in his favor, including the Kennedy Center. However, courts have ruled that only Congress has the authority to change such names. Trump’s name was temporarily added to the facility’s exterior, but a judge ordered its removal.
The U.S. Institute of Peace also saw Trump’s name added last year, following actions by the State Department. These changes have faced legal challenges, with former officials taking steps to block further developments.
In a separate funding initiative, Trump suggested renaming New York’s Penn Station and Dulles Airport in D.C. after himself. He has also discussed creating a Trump Promenade, connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River.
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