Ford’s Theatre Rename Denied
Trump Denies Reported Administration Plan to Rename Historic Ford’s Theatre
Anonymous
Key Points
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The broader discussions reportedly included other potential sites for Trump’s name, including Penn Station in New York, Dulles International Airport in Virginia and a proposed Washington Commanders stadium.
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A former administration official said White House officials, advisers and allies promote naming ideas to curry favor with Trump, quoting his reported reaction as: “Why would I say no? Everybody’s trying to please me.” The official added, “They know flattery gets them everything.”
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The discussions reportedly occurred as the administration faced other pressing political and economic issues, including the Iran war nearing its eighth month, record diesel prices, midterm elections six weeks away and widespread public disapproval of Trump’s job performance.
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The report said the naming effort had generated a flurry of discussion during the preceding week among people responsible for Ford’s Theatre, even though one administration official said it was unclear how seriously the idea was being considered or what form the naming change might take.
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Trump has separately rejected claims that he sought to rename New York’s Penn Station “TRUMP STATION,” saying the idea came from certain politicians and construction-union leaders rather than from him.
President Trump denied reports that his administration is considering adding his name to Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Trump called the report a "ridiculous lie" and "FAKE NEWS" on Truth Social, asking Forbes: "Who would possibly want a name on such a tragic place?" The White House and Interior Department also rejected the claims.
According to Newsweek, unnamed White House officials and allies reportedly discussed the idea as part of a broader effort to identify federal sites that could bear Trump's name. The proposal came after federal courts blocked two attempts to rename the Kennedy Center. Other sites reportedly discussed included Penn Station in New York and Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
How Ford's Theatre Naming Would Work
Ford's Theatre and the adjacent Petersen House are federally owned and operated by the National Park Service. The official name, ThePoke notes, is established by federal statute signed by President Richard Nixon in the 1960s. Any formal change would require an act of Congress to override the existing law—the same legal barrier that blocked two Kennedy Center renaming attempts.
A former administration official told Newsweek that White House aides and allies promote naming ideas to curry favor with Trump. "They know flattery gets them everything," the official said. The naming discussions reportedly created a flurry of internal debate among National Park Service staff responsible for Ford's Theatre, though one official said the seriousness of the proposal was unclear.
Other Federal Sites on Trump's Naming List
The Ford's Theatre proposal was part of a wider strategy to identify easier targets for renaming after the Kennedy Center setback. Yahoo News reports the administration discussed adding Trump's name to Penn Station in New York, Dulles International Airport in Virginia, and a proposed Washington Commanders stadium in the capital. Trump separately denied wanting Penn Station renamed, claiming the idea came from politicians and union leaders, not from him.
Trump's Naming Legacy and Political Timing
Trump has successfully added his name to some federal sites, including the U.S. Institute of Peace, U.S. passports, National Park passes, and $1 gold coins. With midterm elections six weeks away and record diesel prices straining the economy, RedState notes critics like Sen. Richard Blumenthal have characterized the naming effort as emblematic of autocratic politics and a culture of personal loyalty over governance.
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