Bernie Sanders aims to ban sitting presidents from naming federal buildings after themselves

WASHINGTON, Dc: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) on Friday said he will introduce a bill to ban sitting presidents from naming federal buildings after themselves. 

This comes after the Kennedy Center began updating its signage Friday, a day after the institution’s board voted to update the name to include President Donald Trump.

Bernie Sanders criticizes Kennedy Center's signage including Trump

Bernie Sanders took to X to criticize President Trump, calling his actions 'arrogant' and 'narcissistic.' He announced, "What narcissism. I will be introducing legislation prohibiting the naming of federal buildings after sitting presidents."

Sanders’s post included a Reuters video reporting that the Kennedy Center Board had unanimously voted to rename the venue the Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

The center updated its signage on Friday, December 19, with The Washington Post noting that large letters spelling 'Trump' were placed on the floor outside the building.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) called the renaming 'illegal and said it required congressional approval'. Center interim president Richard Grenell pushed back in an X post, writing early Friday, “Agree. Which is why you as a “reporter” should not simply repeat fake news."

He continued, "The decision of the Trump Kennedy Center Board doesn’t impact the Memorial to Kennedy set up by Congress. "

He concluded by responding to a reporter's question, "It’s really shameful how @CNN allows you to use the title 'reporter' when everyone knows you are a stenographer for the Democrats."

Kennedy family condemns renaming of Kennedy Center signage

Members of the Kennedy family condemned the renaming. Kerry Kennedy, with daughter of Robert F Kennedy, saying President Kennedy 'proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer.'

She added, “President Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy’s.”

Former Rep Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass), Robert F Kennedy’s grandson, emphasized that the center 'is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law.' 

Maria Shriver, daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, called the renaming 'TDS in full display,' referencing the acronym Trump has used to dismiss critics as having 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.'

President Trump praised the board for its vote, calling its members 'the most distinguished people in the country." “We saved the building. The building was in such bad shape, both physically, financially, and every other way. And now it’s very solid, very strong,” he added.