“What’s in a name?” William Shakespeare famously asked. If you’re the 47th president of the United States, apparently a lot.
On Sept. 13, The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that the institution formerly known as the Kennedy Center would face “certain fiscal collapse”
as soon as Tuesday, Sept. 15, unless President Donald Trump’s name was added to the building – again – in an effort to help fundraising initiatives.While a Pew Research Center poll released earlier this year found that only 9% of Americans support Trump naming government buildings after himself while in office, the Trump-Kennedy Center of it all is the latest in a long list of name changes featuring or initiated by the sitting president.
In addition to christening
the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario as Lake America – are you sensing a pattern here? – the president has added his name to a dozen buildings, institutions and initiatives, including:
- The Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace
- National park passes
- U.S. passports
- TrumpIRA.gov
- TrumpRx.gov
And the name changes aren’t the only way Trump is leaving his mark. The start-stop construction of a White House ballroom and the proposed Triumphal Arch have led to legal battles alongside praise and scrutiny from voters.
Most Americans oppose White House ballroom, Lake America. Do you agree? Tell us below.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Sept. 10 found that while most voters view the ballroom as a bad idea, with 6 in 10 against it, even more opposed renaming Lake Ontario, with 70% against it – including 38% of Republicans.
Where do you stand on the issue?
- Do you support or oppose Trump adding his name to institutions while in office – or at all?
- Do you agree with the decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario?
- How do you feel about seeing the president’s face on everything from passports to banners to coins?
- Are you in favor of the White House ballroom and Triumphal Arch? Why or why not?
Submit your answers using the form below, or send us an email at forum@usatoday.com using the subject line “Forum Trump renaming.” Please include your name and state of residence. You can also leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923. We’ll publish a collection of your responses, so we may reach out to you about yours.
Janessa Hilliard is the director of audience for USA TODAY Opinion.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kennedy Center pushes to add Trump's name. Should they? Tell us. | Opinion
