Officials from Donald Trump’s administration are reportedly considering adding his name to Ford’s Theatre, the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. This move is part of a broader effort to include Trump’s name on various historical landmarks.
According to a report, staff have been discussing a list of government sites suitable for this change, including Ford’s Theatre. White House officials aim to rename buildings in an effort to gain favour with the president, as suggested by a former administration member who stated, “They know flattery gets them everything.”
Details on how officials plan to attach Trump’s name to the theatre, which operates as both a theatre and museum and is owned by the Interior Department, remain unclear. While an administration official confirmed that discussions have taken place, the outcome is still uncertain.
Trump’s attempts to have his name added to the Kennedy Center have been met with legal challenges, with a federal judge blocking this proposal again earlier this month. Just one day later, Trump was seen examining a poster related to the venue’s demolition.
Since assuming office, Trump has had his name placed on several government properties, including the U.S. Institute of Peace, and has even proposed honouring himself through a new fleet of Navy battleships. Additionally, he has been linked to discussions to rename both New York’s Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport, with some Republican lawmakers supporting this initiative.
However, renaming Ford’s Theatre could pose difficulties, as its name is protected under a federal law established by former President Richard Nixon, which would likely require a congressional act to amend.
In response to these claims, the White House denied the report, calling it “completely false” and criticising the source for spreading misinformation. A spokesperson for the Interior Department echoed this sentiment, reaffirming that the reports are untrue.
