MS NOW reported that White House staff circulated a list of federal sites that could be renamed to include President Trump's name, with Ford's Theatre — where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 — reportedly on the list. The theater's name is established by federal statute and would likely require an act of Congress to change. The White House and the Interior Department have denied the report; the idea, if real, would face significant legal and political obstacles.
Report: White House Staff Discussed Adding Trump’s Name To Ford’s Theatre, Denials Follow
Trump officials are reportedly considering adding President Donald Trump's name to Ford's Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated (AFP via Getty Images)
White House staff reportedly circulated a list of federal properties that could be renamed to include President Donald Trump's name, with Ford's Theatre — the Washington, D.C., site of Abraham Lincoln's 1865 assassination — appearing among the possibilities, according to a report by MS NOW citing people familiar with internal conversations.
What Was Reported
MS NOW said that some staffers compiled potential targets for attaching the president's name to government sites. A former administration official told the outlet that some employees view proposing renamings as a way to win favor:
"They know flattery gets them everything," the ex-official said.
Depiction of the April 14, 1865 assassination of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
How It Might Work — And Why It’s Difficult
It was unclear how the administration would formally attach Trump's name to Ford's Theatre. The historic site remains an active performance venue and museum overseen by the Interior Department. Importantly, the theater's name is fixed by a federal statute signed by President Richard Nixon, which means changing it would likely require an act of Congress — a significant legislative hurdle.
Broader Context
The conversations come amid ongoing disputes over attempts to rename or brand federal institutions and property after the president. A federal judge recently blocked an effort to add Trump's name to the Kennedy Center for a second time. Administration officials previously succeeded in affixing Trump's name to the U.S. Institute of Peace, a move that drew emergency legal motions. The president's likeness and name have also appeared on a range of federal items and proposals, from National Park Service passes and commemorative coins to passports and proposed naval vessel namings. Reports have also said lawmakers floated renaming Dulles Airport and that Trump mentioned renaming New York's Penn Station in his honor.
Ford's Theatre remains operational as a theater and museum and is run by the Department of the Interior (Getty Images)
Responses
The White House denied MS NOW's account in a statement to The Independent, calling the story "completely false" and criticizing the outlet's sourcing. An Interior Department spokesperson also told The Independent the report was not true and said the department had informed MS NOW accordingly. The idea's status remains uncertain and, if pursued, would likely face legal and political obstacles.
Note: This article summarizes reporting and official denials. The claims remain unconfirmed and would require legislative or administrative action to proceed.
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