Since the beginning of his second presidency, President Donald Trump has embarked on a notable quest, pushing to rename multiple institutions, government entities, and monuments after himself. What was initially a symbol of his private business career — including his surname on hotels, stadiums, and golf courses — has now spread to the government, drawing attention and controversy to his actions.
Recently, the Trump administration announced that it has renamed the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, in order to “reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.”
The USIP was initially founded in 1984 and is an independent nonprofit institute. It aims to promote conflict resolution globally. However, the organization has seen anything but peace, after an abrupt takeover by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency in March 2025. A judge later ruled the action unlawful, but the current administration has still seized control of the agency, firing nearly all of its U.S.-based employees amid ongoing efforts by Trump to shut down the institution.
Another change includes the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the Trump-Kennedy Center. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the action was a unanimous decision, but multiple ex-officio members of the board have stated that they were not allowed to speak, and that the president’s decision comes without legal authority to do so. The renaming also comes after Trump made himself chairman of the center and fired numerous board members.
The decision to rename the performing arts center drew immediate criticism. Only Congress has the legal authority to change its name, which again prompted concerns of legality. Because the structure serves as a “living memorial” to the late president, relatives of Kennedy, including his niece and grandson, have expressed their disapproval at the renaming and how it was carried out.
Even more recently, in January 2026, Trump floated the idea that New York Penn Station and the Dulles International Airport would be renamed after him through Congress. However, neither of these proposals have been approved yet.
The president’s actions aren’t just limited to buildings, though. In November 2025, his administration unveiled a controversial National Park pass that features the faces of George Washington and Trump in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. However, the administration was sued, as the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 states that the pass must feature the winner of the National Park Foundation’s annual photo competition. The lawsuit also follows Trump’s decision to provide free entry to national parks on his birthday, while removing the benefit on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
The president and his administration’s actions are still under heavy flak for whether they are truly legal. In the case of the USIP, multiple members have stated that they were kept muted during the meeting to decide whether the organization would be renamed. The administration’s decision to unlawfully fire 11 of the 15 board members and takeover the nonprofit has left it severely crippled.
Furthermore, adding the current president’s name to institutions like the JFK Center for the Performing Arts takes away from its longstanding impact as a memorial and tribute to Kennedy’s dedication to the arts. Even if indirectly, Trump’s decision to remove free park access on two historically significant holidays, in favor of adding it on his own birthday, devalues the contributions celebrated on those holidays.
The push to rebrand national landmarks and institutions with Trump’s identity reflects a significant shift from traditional presidential commemoration to a more assertive — and arguably narcissistic — style of observation. While the current administration frames these changes as a necessary tribute to a new era of American leadership, it’s important to realize the history behind these longstanding organizations, and that they are worth far more than just another opportunity to display the current president’s name.