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Sen. Kennedy Proposes Ban on Naming Buildings After Living Politicians
Confirmed
In Short: Louisiana Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) has proposed a new rule that would prohibit naming buildings after living politicians, a move that comes after a federal appeals court ruled that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the Kennedy Center.
Kennedy made the proposal during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” where he stated, '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.
The senator was likely referring to President Donald Trump's team mocking Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in a viral meme last year. Kennedy's comments come as the Trump administration has attempted to rename multiple federal buildings after the president.
Trump has moved to rechristen the Institute of Peace as the Donald J. Trump Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, a move that has been blocked by federal judges. The president's efforts to rename the Kennedy Center have also been thwarted by legal challenges.
Kennedy's proposal could set a precedent for future governance and public memorialization. The senator's stance is particularly noteworthy given that few senators are willing to go against Trump publicly, and it’s even rarer for open Trump allies such as Kennedy to do so.
In addition to his comments on building naming, Kennedy also addressed the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. He urged President Trump to focus on cost-of-living issues and address the nation regarding ongoing tensions with Iran.
Kennedy emphasized that surging prices for housing, healthcare, and energy remain the paramount concern for American voters heading to the ballot box in November. He also stressed the need for a clear narrative and action plan from the White House on how to resolve the conflict to help stabilize energy markets.
While Kennedy reaffirmed his opposition to deploying ground troops, he emphasized that the public deserves a clear narrative and action plan from the White House on how the conflict will be resolved.
Kennedy's proposal could have significant implications for future governance and public memorialization, as noted in prior WarpBeat coverage. The senator's stance could put him on a collision course with the White House, given Trump's efforts to rename federal buildings.
The proposal is part of a broader pushback against Trump's attempts to rename federal buildings and institutions, including the Kennedy Center, which saw workers begin removing the president's name after a federal appeals court ruling.
Kennedy's comments reflect a growing concern among some politicians about the politicization of public institutions and the potential for self-promotion through building names.
What this adds
Kennedy's proposal is part of a broader pushback against Trump's attempts to rename federal buildings and institutions.
The senator's stance could set a precedent for future governance and public memorialization.
What's confirmed
- “You can’t spend public money to promote yourself,” Kennedy told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday when asked about President Trump’s use of government dollars for a politically tinged ad campaign.
- Beyond just buildings, America’s first-ever sixth-generation fighter jet is named Boeing F-47, in a nod to him being the 47th president, and last year, he unveiled plans for a Trump-class battleship.
- Few senators are willing to go against Trump publicly, and it’s even rarer for open Trump allies such as Kennedy to do as much.
What's still developing
- One-liner whiz Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) called for a new rule to ensure that politicians can’t have a building named after them until they are dead.
- WASHINGTON — There go his chances of having the Kennedy Center dedicated to him anytime soon.
- Amid a judge blocking him from rebranding the Kennedy Center, Trump appears to have flirted with demolishing the complex altogether, though his allies have pointed to structural damage in the building as part of the rationale.
- In addition to domestic economic pressures, Kennedy urged President Trump to address the nation directly to clearly lay out the GOP administration’s strategic posture regarding ongoing tensions with Iran, suggesting that regional instability and lingering blockades near the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to spikes in global oil and domestic gasoline prices.
- It would help if the president would stay focused on cost of living.
- Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said on Sunday that living public officials should not have buildings named after them and proposed a rule to prohibit such renaming efforts.