President Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants the Kennedy Center renamed after his favorite president.
Trump, 79, was participating in an event at the Institute of Peace on Thursday when he made a reference to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw event happening today.
“You have a big event on Friday at the Trump Kennedy Center,” Trump said, before excusing himself and clarifying, “Oh, excuse me, at the Kennedy Center.”
Highlights
- President Trump joked about renaming the Kennedy Center after himself during an event at the Institute of Peace, eliciting laughter from the audience.
- After regaining office, Trump took control of the Kennedy Center board, ousting Biden appointees and installing political allies.
- This week, the U.S. Institute of Peace was renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace amid legal battles and staff dismissals.
- House Republicans earlier this year proposed renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump, linking federal funding to approval.
Trump floated renaming the Kennedy Center after himself
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The audience laughed as Trump joked, “Pardon me, such a terrible mistake.”
The president has floated similar ideas before. In an August Truth Social post, he jokingly wrote the “TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS.”
Soon after returning to office for a second term, Trump took control of the board at the Kennedy Center.
He named himself chairman in February and replaced much of its leadership, ousting many members who had been appointed during the Biden administration.
He replaced them with several political allies, such as former U.S. ambassador Richard Grenell, White House aides Susie Wiles and Dan Scavino, as well as Second Lady Usha Vance.
The Kennedy Center’s board had always maintained a bipartisan balance.
Trump delivered Thursday’s remarks in a building that was renamed only a day earlier.
The State Department announced that the U.S. Institute of Peace would now be known as the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had publicly called Trump the “President of Peace,” echoing the administration’s argument that Trump deserved recognition for diplomatic efforts and received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took over the institute in March and dismissed nearly all of its staff. A federal judge ruled the move unlawful, but the ruling is on hold while appeals continue.
Trump praised the renaming as he began his speech, calling the building “nice” and thanking Rubio for adding his name to the headquarters.
“And thank you for putting a certain name on that building,” he said. “I came. I said. ‘Boy, that’s beau.’ That blew up last night. They said that’s a great honor. It really is, on this building. It’s a great honor. Thank you very much,” Trump said.
The comment comes after the U.S. Institute of Peace was renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
George Foote, counsel for former U.S. Institute of Peace leadership and staff, said the renaming “adds insult to injury,” noting that the organization remains under government control only because of the legal stay.
“The rightful owners will ultimately prevail and will restore the U.S. Institute of Peace and the building to their statutory purposes,” Foote said.
The president’s interest in renaming cultural institutions extends beyond the Peace Institute.
House Republicans advanced a proposal in July to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after First Lady Melania Trump.
Image credits: Kennedy Center
The amendment tied most federal funding for the Kennedy Center to approval of the new name, the Melania Trump Opera House.
Trump has also demanded that the Washington Commanders name their planned stadium after him. The White House said in a statement it would be a “beautiful name.”
Per internal sources, Trump also alluded that he is willing to sabotage the $3.7 billion stadium deal if his demands are not met.
Republican lawmakers have proposed numerous bills to venerate Trump and add his name to airports, railway stations, Mount Rushmore, and even the $100 bill.
In January, Rep. Addison McDowell introduced legislation to rename Washington Dulles International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport. While it is still to be brought to a vote, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this week that they are planning to overhaul and update the airport.
In similar moves, Rep. Greg Steube introduced the Make Autorail Great Again Act in May to rename the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to the “Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access” (WMAGA) and the Metrorail as the “Trump Train.”
The most bold of them all, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna introduced a bill in January that proposed carving Trump into Mount Rushmore, which features four important U.S. presidents, including two founding fathers. The bill is still stuck in the House Committee on Natural Resources.
The Trump administration has introduced legislation to add his name and likeness to railway lines, the $100 bill, and even Mount Rushmore
Image credits: Anna Paulina Luna
Rep. Brandon Gill introduced a similar act, proposing to swap a picture of Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill with that of Trump. It was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.