Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana proposed a federal rule to ban living politicians from having government buildings named after them, directly challenging President Trump’s ongoing efforts to add his name to prominent Washington landmarks including the Kennedy Center.
Courts Strike Down Trump Naming Attempts
Federal appeals courts blocked Trump’s latest effort to rename the Kennedy Center after himself, ordering workers to remove his name from the building’s facade. The court ruled that only Congress holds the constitutional authority to change the center’s official name, despite a unanimous vote by Trump’s handpicked board members in December to add his name. The removal came after judges denied a last-minute appeal to keep Trump’s name on the historic performing arts venue.
Trump’s naming campaign extended beyond the Kennedy Center. The State Department added his name to the U.S. Institute of Peace last year, though former institute officials filed court motions this month to prevent construction crews from placing it on the building’s exterior. The president also demanded New York’s Penn Station and Dulles Airport be renamed after him as conditions for infrastructure funding deals earlier this year.
Senator Challenges Federal Self-Promotion
Kennedy criticized the practice during a Sunday appearance on Face the Nation, stating public officials should not spend taxpayer money on what he called private advertisements for themselves. His comments came as federally funded advertisements promoting Trump appeared across multiple television networks. Kennedy acknowledged his stance might invite political retaliation, referencing Trump’s past mockery of Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries through artificial intelligence videos showing them wearing sombreros.
The Louisiana senator told host Margaret Brennan that while the White House sees the matter differently, using public funds for self-promotion crosses constitutional boundaries. Kennedy emphasized his proposed rule would apply equally to all politicians, including Trump, preventing any living official from having federal buildings bear their names.
Constitutional Authority Questions
The legal battles highlight fundamental questions about presidential power versus congressional authority over federal property. Courts consistently ruled that Trump’s executive branch appointments cannot unilaterally rename congressionally established institutions. Trump also floated plans for a promenade connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River, suggesting allies wanted to call it the Trump Promenade, though he claimed uncertainty about accepting that designation. The proposal represents part of broader efforts to place his name on Washington’s most visible federal landmarks and infrastructure projects.