President Donald Trump wants you to know he has no interest in putting his name on Ford's Theatre. None. Zero. And he took to Truth Social on Wednesday to say so in his own unmistakable style.
The denial came after an MS Now report suggested that Trump's aides were quietly exploring whether they could associate the President's name with the historic Washington, D.C. site, where former President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.
Trump called the story a "ridiculous lie" and "FAKE NEWS!" before adding the line that pretty much sums up the whole thing: "Who would possibly want a name on such a tragic place?"
Trump Name Report Sparks Controversy
According to MS Now, White House officials, advisers and allies have reportedly floated ideas like naming buildings after Trump as a way to gain his favor. Sources told the publication that officials are also looking at sites that could be renamed for Trump while facing fewer legal hurdles than the Kennedy Center effort.
Ford's Theatre isn't just any building. It's a federally owned historic site managed by the National Park Service, part of the Interior Department, along with Petersen House, where Lincoln later died. Together they form the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site. So slapping a new name on it isn't exactly a simple paperwork exercise.
Kennedy Center Renaming Plan Hits Hurdle
Since returning to office, Trump has been associated with a series of changes and projects that prominently feature his name or likeness, such as his image on passports, plans for a 250-foot arch and major changes to the White House grounds, including a new ballroom and a redesigned Rose Garden.
His effort to rename the Kennedy Center after himself faced a setback earlier this month when a federal judge, for the second time, blocked the proposed name change. The President said the center could close or be "ripped down" without recognition for his administration, while officials cited years of deterioration at the complex.
The judge ordered the Trump administration to give 30 days' notice before making major changes to the Kennedy Center renovation plans, including possible demolition.
So for now, Ford's Theatre keeps its name. And Trump, at least publicly, seems perfectly fine with that.
