John Kennedy proposes ban on naming buildings after living politicians

It’s giving main character energy, but maybe not in the way the administration intended. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is pushing for a new rule that would block any politician from having a federal building named after them while they’re still alive. Real talk: he’s had enough of the rebrandings.

The Kennedy Center fallout

This pushback follows a major L for the current administration. Workers have officially started pulling Donald Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., after a federal appeals court shut down an emergency bid to keep the signage up. The court made it clear: only Congress has the power to change the name of the center, regardless of that unanimous board vote back in December 2025.

What’s the motive?

Sen. Kennedy isn't just focused on the names—he’s lowkey annoyed about the money. During an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation," he argued that officials shouldn't be using public funds to run private ads for themselves. This comes right as government-funded ads promoting the president have been popping up across various networks.

Kennedy’s stance is pretty firm: "You can’t spend public money to … promote yourself." He even joked that he might end up with a sombrero on his head for his stance—a nod to the time the president shared AI-edited videos of Democrats wearing them—but he thinks the rule is necessary to keep things professional.

A pattern of renaming

Since moving back into the White House, the president has been on a roll with renaming federal property. Beyond the Kennedy Center, there have been attempts to slap his name on the U.S. Institute of Peace, though that's facing its own legal hurdles. He also floated the idea of renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport as part of funding deals, and even discussed a potential "Trump Promenade" near the Lincoln Memorial. For now, the courts are acting as a major roadblock to these plans.

Why it matters

Naming public assets after sitting politicians has historically been a major taboo in D.C. because it turns government property into personal brand real estate. By trying to codify a ban on the practice, Sen. Kennedy is signaling that some of his colleagues are reaching their limit with the current administration's approach to federal branding.