In December 2025, President Trump’s name was added to the exterior of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., before being removed less than six months later following a judge’s ruling that only Congress can change the name of the performing arts complex. Trump had previously argued that the building would close or be torn down without his name on the facade. While Trump and his supporters have called for his name to appear on various public assets, it remains rare for sitting presidents to stamp their identities on infrastructure and currency due to historical norms. This caution dates back to the first presidential administration, when George Washington and early lawmakers sought to avoid any appearance of monarchy. The House of Representatives decided against putting Washington’s face on the inaugural American coins authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792 to prevent monarchical ties, a concern shared by Washington himself. However, exceptions have occurred. The federal city was named Washington to honor him during his time in office, and later presidents like Teddy Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Woodrow Wilson had dams named after them, though typically through the efforts of political supporters rather than self-promotion. A prominent historical example is the Hoover Dam. Originally known as the Boulder Canyon project, Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur suggested renaming it the Hoover Dam in 1930 to honor Herbert Hoover’s pivotal role in planning and negotiating the Colorado River Compact. While Hoover was pleased, he avoided self-aggrandizing behavior. When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933, his secretary of the interior, Harold Ickes, reverted the name to Boulder Dam due to political opposition, and FDR omitted Hoover’s name during a 1935 dedication speech. In 1947, Congress unanimously voted to restore the Hoover Dam name to recognize his early support and humanitarian work. FDR himself generally avoided naming things after himself, with the notable exception of initiating the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Following this tradition, Trump announced plans for a future presidential project in Miami, noting it will likely be a hotel featuring a Boeing 747 Air Force One in the lobby and his name prominently displayed on the exterior.
Source: npr.org
