Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) wants a rule barring living politicians from having buildings named after them. He made the proposal on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday, arguing that public money should not be spent promoting a sitting official.
“I also think that we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him while he’s alive,” Kennedy said. “I think that would settle a lot of this controversy.”
The push comes as President Donald Trump continues to rename government institutions in his own honor. Last year, Trump renamed the Institute of Peace as the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace. He attempted to rename the Kennedy Center, though that move has been blocked by the courts. Trump appears to have considered demolishing the Kennedy Center entirely.
Renamed Buildings and Airports
Florida Republicans renamed their local airport the President Donald J. Trump International Airport. America’s first-ever sixth-generation fighter jet is named the Boeing F-47, a nod to Trump being the 47th president. Last year, Trump unveiled plans for a Trump-class battleship.
Several GOP lawmakers want to put Trump’s image on the $100 bill. The pattern is consistent: Trump has treated government property as personal branding, and the rule Kennedy proposes would prevent anyone from doing the same while still serving.
The Kennedy Center Blockade
The courts have blocked Trump’s attempt to rename the Kennedy Center. Amid that judge’s order, Trump appears to have flirted with demolishing the complex altogether. His allies have pointed to structural damage in the building as part of the rationale.
The Ad Campaign
A new Trump government ad calls for throwing off the political class that hates our country and describes a “final battle.” The campaign is estimated to cost some $1.7 million so far.
Critics say the timing is close to midterm elections. The ad’s language is stark, but it is not clear whether it will change many minds or simply reinforce existing opinions.
Kennedy’s joke about ending up with a sombrero on his head likely references Trump’s team mocking Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in a meme. The joke showed Kennedy willing to engage with the absurdity of the moment.
The Cassidy Primary Loss
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) lost his primary race to Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.). Trump backed Letlow due to his frustration over backing the second impeachment against him.
The primary result means the state’s Senate seat is now controlled by a candidate who won with Trump’s support. The impeachment fallout was a central factor in the race.
The Noem Questioning
Critics point to Kennedy’s questioning of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as a possible factor in Trump’s decision to fire her. The connection is not direct, but the timing raises questions about whether Kennedy’s aggressive style toward administration officials has consequences beyond the exchange itself.
The Cost of Political Promotion
Spending public money on political promotion is a waste of taxpayer dollars. It is also a form of corruption, in the sense that it turns government resources into personal advertising.
Kennedy’s argument is simple: the government should not be in the business of promoting individuals. The money belongs to the public, not to any one person’s ego.
The ad campaign’s $1.7 million price tag is a reminder of how expensive political self-promotion can be. That money could fund services, infrastructure, or research. Instead, it is paying for ads that describe a final battle against the political class.
A Fair Rule for All
Kennedy’s rule would apply to all politicians, not just Trump. That is a significant point. A rule that targets one person or one party is suspect; a rule that applies to everyone is fairer.
Trump’s renaming efforts have become a defining feature of his presidency. From airports to battleships to fighter jets, the pattern is clear: he wants his name on things while he is still in power. A rule that bars living politicians from having buildings named after them would stop that.
The Proposal’s Limits
The rule Kennedy proposes would apply to all politicians, not just Trump. That is a significant point. A rule that targets one person or one party is suspect; a rule that applies to everyone is fairer.
The ad campaign’s $1.7 million price tag is a reminder of how expensive political self-promotion can be. That money could fund services, infrastructure, or research. Instead, it is paying for ads that describe a final battle against the political class.
Kennedy’s argument is worth taking seriously. Public money should not be used to promote politicians.
For now, the proposal stands as a statement of principle. It is a call for restraint in government, and it is one that deserves attention.
Key Facts Box
– Trump renamed the Institute of Peace as the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace last year
– Trump attempted to rename the Kennedy Center; the courts have blocked it
– Trump appears to have considered demolishing the Kennedy Center
– Florida Republicans renamed their local airport the President Donald J. Trump International Airport
– America’s first-ever sixth-generation fighter jet is named the Boeing F-47
– Last year, Trump unveiled plans for a Trump-class battleship
– Several GOP lawmakers want to put Trump’s image on the $100 bill
– Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) lost his primary race to Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.)
– A new Trump government ad campaign is estimated to cost some $1.7 million so far
– The ad calls for throwing off the political class that hates our country and describes a final battle
Pull Quote
“I think that would settle a lot of this controversy.”
Where the paper stands
The paper backs the principle of no public money being spent promoting a sitting official, and is against any concentration of power that would let a president rename government institutions in his own honor. The proposal by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) to ban living politicians from having buildings named after them addresses both concerns.
The $1.7 million price tag on the current ad campaign, which describes a “final battle” against the political class, is a reminder of how much political promotion costs taxpayers. Spending public money on political promotion is a waste of taxpayer dollars and a form of corruption, turning government resources into personal advertising.
The proposal applies to all politicians, not just Trump. That makes it a fairer rule than one targeting a single person or party. The paper supports the principle of restraint in government spending and the protection of individual freedom from concentrations of power, and Kennedy’s proposal advances both goals.
Source material: “Sen. John Kennedy pushes to ban living pols from getting buildings named after them,” the New York Post.
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