Trump’s Name Removed from Kennedy Center After Court Ruling

Construction crews in Washington D.C. began removing Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center following a federal appeals court decision. The court denied a last-minute appeal aiming to keep Trump’s name on the building, which was initially added after a unanimous board vote in December.

Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed his stance on naming buildings after living public officials. He suggested a rule to prohibit such renaming efforts, stating that public officials like Trump should not use public funds on self-promotion.

Kennedy appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” saying, “You can’t spend public money to promote yourself.” This statement followed the creation of a federal government-funded ad promoting Trump across various networks.

He further advocated for barring public officials from having buildings named after them while still alive, citing past instances where Trump mocked politicians using AI-generated videos.

The Kennedy Center’s board sought an emergency appeal to block the court’s order mandating Trump’s name removal, yet a judge denied the request. This action reflects Trump’s attempts to rename several federal buildings since his return to the Oval Office.

Despite temporary success in adding his name to the Kennedy Center’s facade, courts have reiterated Congress’s sole authority in renaming federal buildings. Similar efforts were witnessed at the U.S. Institute of Peace, where the Trump administration’s addition was contested by former institute officials.

Beyond the Kennedy Center, Trump explored renaming New York’s Penn Station and Dulles Airport as part of a funding deal. He also suggested a project to connect the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River, dubbed “Trump Promenade” by some allies.