As a real estate magnate, Donald Trump cultivated a fondness for two things – gold and his name emblazoned on the facades of skyscrapers and casinos. That inclination has not waned with his return to the presidency. In office, he has surrounded himself with golden objects, proposed gilding the presidential aircraft Air Force One, and sought to name federal buildings, warships, and social programs after himself.
This practice sets him apart from his predecessors. While the names of past presidents are often commemorated on institutions or currency, such recognition typically occurs years, even decades, after they have left office. The case of John F. Kennedy is an exception, with tributes appearing soon after his assassination in Dallas on .
The New York Times notes that some institutions, like memorials, are traditionally named for presidents only after their deaths, and currency follows a similar pattern. A 2005 law expanded the series of one-dollar coins to include portraits of all deceased presidents, explicitly prohibiting the minting of coins until two years after a president’s death.
Despite this, a coin bearing Trump’s likeness was proposed for release as early as this year. Administration officials explained the move as part of a numismatic series celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an event not explicitly covered by the prohibition.
Among conservatives, proposals circulate to place Trump’s face on banknotes in denominations of $250 or $500. However, historically, it has been others – often successors – who have suggested naming federal institutions after a president, typically after they have left office. Donald Trump is the first president to actively pursue such honors during his own tenure, frequently bestowing them upon himself.
Recently, he unveiled plans for a new fleet of warships – dubbed the “golden fleet.” Officially named the Trump USS Defiant, he claims as many as twenty-five of these vessels will soon patrol the world’s oceans. “They will be the fastest, largest, and a hundred times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” Trump declared, surrounded by renderings of the “Trump-class” ships. He added they would be equipped with hypersonic and “extremely lethal” weaponry, becoming the flagships of the American navy.
Trump as Sultan
Critics see a recurring pattern of narcissistic and megalomaniacal tendencies in Donald Trump’s actions. “He feels a great sympathy for strong rulers. He’d rather live somewhere in the Persian Gulf as a sultan. I think he simply has an authoritarian personality that stems from his enormous ego. It’s therefore not surprising that he wants to see himself on every building,” said Christian Caryl, a former editor at The Washington Post.
Gerry Connolly, Democratic Congressman for Virginia: “When Republicans first proposed renaming Dulles Airport after Donald Trump, I said it would be more appropriate to name a federal prison near Mar-a-Lago after him. I still can’t imagine a more fitting tribute for our first president convicted of a crime.”
Two significant federal buildings currently bear Trump’s name – the Institute for Peace (ostensibly due to his alleged success in ending global conflicts) and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Trump had his name added to the front of the Kennedy Center, preceding Kennedy’s, resulting in the official name becoming the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The Kennedy Center hosts hundreds of performances and events annually, including performances at its Opera House, one of the largest theaters with over 2,000 seats. Since the renaming and Trump’s replacement of the center’s board members with his allies, ticket sales have plummeted. Numerous artists have cancelled performances, including the Washington National Opera, the Hamilton musical ensemble, composers Philip Glass and Stephen Schwartz, and soprano Renée Fleming.
Most artists cited the politicization of the center as their reason for withdrawing. “I value the freedom to create and share my music and have long used that privilege to highlight the stories of immigrants in this country,” explained Sonia De Los Santos, a singer and composer.
Richard Grenell, the center’s interim executive appointed by Trump, condemned the artists, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “You guys have politicized this, you’ve succumbed to the woke mob that wants you to only perform for leftists.”
Following the ensuing turmoil, Trump announced a two-year closure of the center for an unspecified renovation. The Kennedy Center’s board, entirely selected by Trump and chaired by him, unanimously approved the change. A spokesperson for the center stated the new name “honors President Trump’s work at the center since the beginning of his second term.”
Republicans across the country are introducing initiatives and legislative proposals to rename other institutions, airports, and highways in their states. Trump’s name could eventually be associated with natural landmarks as well. In West Virginia, lawmakers have proposed renaming Spruce Knob, the state’s highest peak, to Trump Mountain, citing “overwhelming support” for Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections.
Claudia Tenney, Republican Congresswoman for New York: “Just as George Washington’s birthday is a federal holiday, Donald Trump’s birthday should be a state holiday. He is the most significant president in modern American history.”
“As a lasting tribute to his legacy and enduring influence, it is fitting that Spruce Knob be officially renamed ‘Trump Mountain.’ It is an acknowledgement of the service President Trump has provided to our state, an acknowledgement of his influence on the nation, and an expression of the loyalty of the people of West Virginia,” the resolution states.
A bill to carve Trump’s face into Mount Rushmore in South Dakota remains under consideration in Congress. “Mount Rushmore, a timeless symbol of our nation’s freedom and strength, deserves to reflect his towering legacy – a legacy further solidified by the powerful start to his second term,” said Representative Anna Paulina Luna, the bill’s sponsor.
“Let’s just start carving!” she urged.
Trump himself considers himself the greatest president in U.S. History, claiming to be more popular than Washington or Lincoln, who consistently rank highly in polls assessing presidential greatness. “I think if George Washington came back from the dead and picked Abraham Lincoln as his vice president, I think they’d have a very hard time beating me,” Trump said in an interview with The Federalist in the fall of 2021.
