Maddow Blog-Republicans push to name Kennedy Center's opera house after Melania Trump

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Republicans like to give things politically satisfying names and push sycophantic pro-Trump bills. The Kennedy Center’s opera house idea checks both boxes.

Republicans push to rename the Kennedy Center’s opera house after Melania #Trump.

Her husband is chairman of the board.

#Epstein distraction number 3582

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-push-name-kennedy-centers-opera-house-melania-trump-rcna220545

— AnnaAnthro (@annaanthro.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy) 2025-07-23T21:56:08.000Z

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-push-name-kennedy-centers-opera-house-melania-trump-rcna220545

There really wasn’t much in the way of interest in the House Appropriations Committee working on a measure to fund the Interior Department in the next fiscal year, but Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho decided to tuck one idea into the package that made the legislative effort a bit more interesting. NBC News reported:

Republicans on Tuesday proposed naming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Opera House after first lady Melania Trump, with the lawmaker who sponsored the measure saying he wanted to honor the first lady’s ‘support and commitment in promoting the arts and humanities.’ ... Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, ranking member on the subcommittee, said Tuesday during the full committee markup of the bill that she was ‘surprised’ to find the Kennedy Center provision in the amendment and made it clear that she opposed it.

In recent months, Republicans have prioritized naming things in ways they find ideologically satisfying, targeting everything from the Gulf of Mexico to Navy ships, Veterans Day to the Persian Gulf, military bases to sports teams.

GOP officials have similarly invested a bizarre amount of time and energy into pushing sycophantic legislation designed to make Donald Trump happy. The list includes:

a bill to create a $250 bill that would feature Trump’s face;
a similar bill that would put Trump’s face on $100 bills;
a bill to make Trump’s birthday a federal holiday;
a bill to carve Trump’s face into Mount Rushmore;
a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump; and
a bill to name the Washington, D.C., subway system after Trump and his MAGA slogan.

.....That said, proponents of the idea probably shouldn’t get their hopes up. As NBC News’ report added, “The likelihood of the proposal’s becoming law is slim. While it’s possible the overall funding bill could pass the Republican-controlled House, it will face an uphill climb in the Senate, where government funding bills need Democratic support to pass.”

[Irish_Dem]

1. It is like the King and Queen of England honors.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. They cancel DEI culture to force their culture on the US

Freedom!

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. First Escort gets a building named after her?

I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?

A house where no one comes to any more.

[BoRaGard]

4. How about: The House of the Rising Buns?

[SheltieLover]

5. Personally, I wouldn't put natasha's name on anything

But I'm not trying to drag the USA down to the pathetic level of russia.

[617Blue]

6. The Whore House.

The woman was a prostitute. The First Lady of the US was a prostitute. He degrades everything he touches.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. The new name for this facility if the GOP gets their way

[617Blue]

8. Not enough bad things can happen to that entire disgusting family

usually there's a good one in the bunch - but not with these freaks.

[BoRaGard]

9. Theater of the Absurd ?

That has a real republicon ring to it.

[BoRaGard]

10. Theatre' Femme Trophe' (R)

Aka: Trophy Wife Playhouse

[allegorical oracle]

11. But her operatic rendition of Madame Butterfly was a big hit. Oh...wait. nt

[allegorical oracle]

12. His name is now on one of the streets in Palm Beach. He has three years to go. nt

[Ocelot II]

13. It's even worse than when they went crazy naming everything after Reagan.

But those renamings weren't intended to flatter Reagan personally so he wouldn't punish them on social media, since by that time he was dead or at least in the final throes of dementia; they were more to glorify their concept of Reagan (which was fucked up, but that's another story). These Trump naming bills are intended as the most blatant sort of flattery and favor-currying, with these sorry poltroons falling over themselves to come up with more and more totally cool things to name after Dear Leader. The Reagan renamings were infuriating and undeserved (DCA will always be National Airport, AFAIC), but this is just embarrassing and stupid.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. George Conway made me smile

Link to tweet

[Ping Tung]

15. Will he settle for a topless bar down by the docks named "Melania's Joint".

[Hotler]

16. I have an old beat up galvanized trash can. I should set it in the front yard and name it,

The First Lady Melania Trump trash can. I thought about spray painting it gold but, I think old galvanize is perfect.

[themaguffin]

17. Aside from how horrible this would be, it already has a name.