January 1, Senator Pushes Rule Against Naming Buildings After Living Politicians

Wyatt’s Take

• Public money should never be spent turning politicians into living monuments.
• Senator Kennedy wants clear rules so no elected official can slap their own name on federal buildings while still in office.
• Trump’s moves to rename landmarks have sparked a bigger debate about taxpayer-funded self-promotion.

Senator John Kennedy is drawing a hard line against naming federal buildings after politicians who are still alive.

The Louisiana Republican says taxpayers should not foot the bill for what he calls personal advertising.

“The White House sees it differently, but … you can’t spend public money to … promote yourself,” Kennedy told host Margaret Brennan on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

Kennedy wants a simple rule that would block any sitting politician from having a government building named after them.

“I may end up with a sombrero on my head, but I also think we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him when he’s alive,” he said.

The comments come while President Trump pushes to put his own name on the Kennedy Center and other Washington landmarks.

Those efforts have run into court blocks, with judges ruling only Congress can rename such buildings.

Trump has also floated naming New York’s Penn Station and Dulles Airport after himself as part of funding talks.

Other projects, like a new promenade near the Lincoln Memorial, were floated with suggestions it could be called the “Trump Promenade.”

Kennedy’s proposal would stop any future president or member of Congress from using public funds to create monuments to themselves while still in office.

Wyatt Matters

Working families in the heartland understand that government buildings belong to the people, not to the politicians who happen to hold office at the time. Keeping names off federal property until after public servants leave office is a simple way to remind everyone who really pays the bills.