Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) slammed President Donald Trump for putting his name on the John F. Kennedy Center, calling it a dangerous precedent and introducing legislation to prevent sitting presidents from self-naming federal buildings.

Trump Names Federal Buildings After Himself

On Tuesday, Sanders shared a clip on X, saying, "Of the many crises facing this country, what worries me the most is Trump moving America toward an authoritarian society, more and more power in his own hands."

He criticized Trump for naming the Kennedy Center after himself, noting that "that is not only outrageous, it is illegal."

In his post, Sanders wrote, "For Trump to put his name on the Kennedy Center and other federal buildings is not only arrogant and narcissistic, it is illegal."

He added, "We must put an end to sitting presidents naming buildings after themselves — and that's what my bill does."

Sanders' legislation would make it explicitly unlawful for a sitting president to name any federal building after themselves, a step he says is necessary to prevent what he sees as the rise of self-aggrandizing, authoritarian tendencies.

Trump Kennedy Center Renaming Sparks Controversy

Last year in December, President Trump served as "Master of Ceremony" for the Kennedy Center Honors, joking that if viewers liked his performance, he might leave the presidency to host full-time.

He highlighted honorees, including Sylvester Stallone, KISS, George Strait and Gloria Gaynor.

Trump's efforts to attach his name to U.S. institutions faced legal challenges.

His handpicked board renamed the Kennedy Center the “Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” prompting a lawsuit from Rep. Joyce Beatty (D‑Ohio).

At the United States Institute of Peace, Trump's name was also added despite ongoing court battles, with lawyers calling the move an "insult."

The Kennedy Center also demanded $1 million from musician Chuck Redd after he canceled his Jazz Jam performance following the renaming.

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell condemned the cancellation as "classic intolerance," highlighting the growing backlash to Trump's rebranding of cultural landmarks.

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