Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Sunday that living public officials should not have buildings named in their honor, weighing in as President Trump continues his push to rename the Kennedy Center after himself.
Appearing on CBS News' "Face the Nation," Kennedy argued that elected officials, including Trump, should not use public funds for self-promotion. "You can't spend public money to promote yourself," Kennedy told host Margaret Brennan, adding that the White House "sees it differently."
Kennedy's comments came as a new taxpayer-funded ad promoting Trump airs across multiple networks. The Louisiana Republican went further, calling for a formal prohibition on naming buildings after sitting politicians. "I may end up with a sombrero on my head, but I also think we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him when he's alive," he said, referencing Trump's past mockery of Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries with doctored sombrero videos.
Trump has repeatedly sought to attach his name to federal buildings during his second term. His efforts to rename the Kennedy Center have faced legal setbacks, with a federal judge invalidating attempts by a Trump-aligned board to add his name to the facility. The dispute has drawn broader attention, including from the Kennedy family, who have publicly criticized the president's efforts.
Separately, the State Department added Trump's name to the U.S. Institute of Peace last December. Former institute employees who were ousted by the administration filed an emergency court motion this month to block construction crews from carving the president's name onto the building's exterior. In their filing, attorneys for the former employees warned that the "threatened carving would impose serious irreparable harm" and argued it should be halted through a "limited, status-quo-preserving modification of the stay pending appeal."
The legal battles reflect a broader pattern of Trump's attempts to cement his name on institutions, often prompting resistance. A federal judge previously blocked the Kennedy Center name change, and the administration has faced threats of demolition in the ongoing dispute.
Kennedy's remarks also underscore intraparty tensions. While the senator has generally aligned with Trump, his call for restrictions on naming buildings for living politicians puts him at odds with the president's actions. The proposal echoes concerns about the use of public resources for personal branding, a theme that has surfaced in other contexts, such as when Senate Republicans pushed back on Trump's attacks on justices and the Federal Reserve.
It remains unclear whether Kennedy's suggested rule will gain traction in Congress. For now, the debate over Trump's renaming efforts continues to play out in courts and public discourse, with the Kennedy Center dispute serving as a flashpoint. As the administration presses forward, legal challenges and political pushback are likely to persist.
