Polling data shows Americans don't like President Donald Trump renaming buildings after himself. (Only 9% support Trump trying to put his name on landmarks such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or the U.S. Institute of Peace.)
Most Americans (70%) also don't like him renaming Lake Ontario or his demolition of the White House East Wing to create a ballroom (60%) – though, surprisingly, he says he has no plans to name it after himself.
Answers that we obtained from you, our USA TODAY readers, pretty much backed that up. For our latest installment of Forum, we asked you questions about the president's penchant for assigning new monikers. And you said Trump, for reasons including that he is a sitting president, should keep his
name off bodies of water, structures and official documents. You also had some interesting ideas about whose name would be worthy to go on such things.
Read a sampling of those answers below. For more opportunities to weigh in, visit usatoday.com/forum, leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923 or drop us a note at forum@usatoday.com.
Trump has no business naming anything after himself
President Donald Trump has no business renaming anything after himself or America. Or any business naming anything after himself in Washington, DC, or around the world. Or any business renaming shared waters or land.
He had no permission to remove the East Wing or create a ballroom. There is no need for a proposed U.S. Triumphal Arch on Memorial Circle. This country has serious problems to solve, and spending funds on his projects does not serve the American people.
I would not purchase anything with his name or likeness on it. His job is to take care of the American people for his presidential term, not make himself rich.
And I don't like the idea of local governments renaming streets, airports or similar infrastructure after Trump.
To have a building in Washington, DC, named after you, it would be necessary to have actually led the country and provided for its citizens.
— Cindy Atkinson, Arizona
Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed polio vaccine, deserves recognition
I oppose renaming government buildings after sitting presidents.
Trump's renaming of the Kennedy Center is a ridiculous ploy by a failed president who is trying to ride the coattails of a beloved figure from our history. Despite his bluster, Trump knows he is lousy at the job and would never be honored in perpetuity by the United States.
Calling the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario something different is just stupid and an obvious distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein files and the myriad failures of both Trump terms.
With projects in Washington, DC, cleaning up trash and removing graffiti is all good. The ballroom and the arch are just a stupid waste of taxpayer money by a flailing and failing spoiled brat who somehow made his way into the White House. He is an embarrassment each and every day and in each and every way.
The only way I'm spending any money on anything with Trump's image on it is a "I Did This!" gas pump sticker or maybe having one of his public "Ripoff Van Winkle" naps.
We should honor people who have truly accomplished something other than divisiveness, graft, corruption and embarrassing the country on the regular. Trump deserves to have absolutely nothing more dignified than a malfunctioning septic tank named after him – and that would still be a stretch.
We should honor those who have sacrificed for the betterment of all, those who work to better humanity and those who unite and inspire our better angels. Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine, is someone who I feel exhibited these characteristics and never truly got the recognition he deserves.
— Adam Dobbs, Kentucky
Lawmakers, say no to Trump. But is anyone worthy of a landmark?
It's not acceptable to rename government buildings after sitting presidents.
Adding his name hurt the Kennedy Center. It should not be done without congressional approval. The president should remove himself from this institution.
I'm also totally opposed to his renaming of bodies of water. Why does Trump feel he has the ability to change a name at the drop of a hat? Nothing like having a fifth grader as president.
As for demolition of a large part of the White House, I am totally opposed to it. He is a temporary resident of the White House. Where is Congress? When are lawmakers going to grow a spine and say no to Trump?
He is in love with himself. Maybe he should divorce his wife and marry himself. He could charge an entry fee to the wedding.
I would be cautious about putting anyone's name on a landmark. Everyone has skeletons in their closet.
— Scott Eckel, Wisconsin
No to Donald. Yes to Dolly.
I oppose renaming government buildings after sitting presidents.
And I oppose the renaming of any bodies or water. This is something a children do. Instead of stepping up to have an adult conversation on how to improve things or how to work together, they throw a tantrum. This solves nothing and proves nothing except that our leader is an imbecile who is incapable of doing anything important or helpful.
I oppose all the Washington, DC, construction projects. We do not need another memorial or building right now. What a waste of taxpayer money. I'd rather my tax money go to more important things, like health care, ensuring people have access to food, the environment and education. There are so many other important things we need in this country than an arch I'll never visit.
Gawdy and tacky are words that come to mind when I see something plastered with Trump's face or name. I avoid and deliberately would never buy any Trump memorabilia. I have better use for my money. Like groceries. And gas. I don't want anything with his name on it unless it's my toilet paper.
We should name landmarks after someone who spread good in the world. The first person to come to mind is Dolly Parton. She used her money and fame to do good. We should all be more like Dolly, and she should be honored for her philanthropy.
— Josh Parrott, Ohio
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don't name things for Trump. Name them for Dolly Parton. | Your Turn
