Senator John Kennedy has proposed a new rule prohibiting living politicians from having federal buildings named after them, directly challenging President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to put his name on prominent Washington landmarks. The Louisiana Republican said public officials should not spend taxpayer money promoting themselves.
Courts Block Trump Naming Efforts
Federal courts have repeatedly blocked Trump’s attempts to rename the Kennedy Center after himself. Workers recently removed Trump’s name from the historic venue following an appeals court ruling that determined only Congress holds the authority to change the center’s official name. The president’s name had been briefly added to the building’s facade after a unanimous board vote in December, but judges ordered its removal.
Kennedy appeared on CBS News and criticized the use of public funds for what he characterized as private advertisements for politicians. The senator’s remarks came as federally funded promotional ads featuring Trump appeared on multiple television networks. Kennedy acknowledged the White House views the situation differently but maintained that taxpayer money should not be used for self-promotion by any public official.
Multiple Buildings Targeted
The Kennedy Center represents just one target in Trump’s broader campaign to attach his name to federal properties. The State Department added Trump’s name to the U.S. Institute of Peace last year, though former institute officials recently filed court motions to prevent construction crews from placing the president’s name on the building’s exterior. Trump also suggested naming Penn Station in New York and Dulles Airport in the Washington area after himself as conditions for approving a funding deal earlier this year.
Trump has additionally proposed building a promenade connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River. The president indicated that allies wanted to call it the Trump Promenade, though he expressed some hesitation about the idea publicly.
Constitutional Authority Questions
The legal battles over building names center on congressional authority versus executive power. Federal judges have consistently ruled that Trump-appointed boards lack the power to unilaterally change official building names without congressional approval. These court decisions have forced removal of Trump’s name from structures where it was temporarily installed, creating ongoing disputes between the administration and the judicial branch over the proper limits of presidential influence on federal property designations.