Trump Naming Kennedy Center After His Favorite President
There can never be too many buildings with President Donald Trump’s name on them.
The 79-year-old president suggested this while attending an event at the Institute of Peace on Thursday.
“You have a big event at the Trump Kennedy Center on Friday,” Trump said. “Oh, I’m sorry, it’s at the Kennedy Center.”
The audience laughed when Trump added: “Sorry, terrible mistake.”
President Donald Trump gestures before the peace agreement signing ceremony at the Institute of Peace on December 4, 2025. /Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
While making this comment, the President noted that the FIFA president was among the audience before the 2026 World Cup Final Draw, which will be held tomorrow at the cultural center in Washington, and was bragging about the ticket sales.
This isn’t the first time Trump has considered renaming the Kennedy Center after himself.
He also joked about “TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, oops, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS” in a Truth Social post in August.
U.S. President Donald Trump tours the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with Kennedy Center Board of Trustees chairman Richard Grenell, left, and Trustee Sergio Gor on March 17, 2025, in Washington, DC. / Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images
Just weeks after being inaugurated for a second term, Trump announced plans to fire board members and appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Center in February.
But the president’s comment on Thursday was made while standing inside the Institute of Peace building, where “Donald J. Trump” was added to a sign above the entrance this week.
“This morning, the State Department renamed the former Institute of Peace to reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history,” the State Department said Wednesday, along with a photo. “Welcome to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised Trump as the “President of Peace.”
The move was a major success for the president, who noticed his name being added to the building at Thursday’s event.
“I must say, this is a beautiful building,” Trump said at the beginning of his remarks. “So this is a special event for many reasons, but number one, this is the first event we’ve used for peace in this building, and it’s all about peace.”
Trump’s name was added to the Institute of Peace headquarters this week, but the president signed an executive order in February aimed at gutting the congressionally funded institute, which was founded in 1984. /x/StateDept
Moments later, Trump directly thanked Rubio for adding his name to the building.
“And thank you for giving that building a specific name,” he said. “I came. I said, ‘Boy, this is beautiful.'” It exploded last night. They said it was a great honor. In this building it really is. It’s a great honor. Thank you very much.”
The institute, established by Congress, is among several organizations that the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been trying to dismantle since the beginning of Trump’s second term.
Although Trump’s name has been added to the headquarters, the legal struggle over control of the organization continues.
The president also wants Washington Commanders to name the planned stadium after him. ESPN last month’s report. The White House said in a statement that it would be a “beautiful name.”
