GOP Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana has proposed a rule that no politician should have a building named after them while they are alive, citing President Trump’s campaign to rename the Kennedy Center after himself. The suggestion came during an interview on CBS News’s Face the Nation and was reported by The Hill.

Kennedy said that public officials, including Trump, should not spend public money on private ads and that naming public buildings after living officials is inappropriate. He framed the issue around the high-profile attempt by President Trump to rename Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center, a move that would honor a living president in a landmark traditionally dedicated to a deceased figure.

The proposal taps into long‑standing debates over the use of public funds for personal legacy projects and the criteria for naming public institutions. While naming buildings after deceased leaders is common, doing so for a living politician would set a new precedent and could raise questions about favoritism and the stewardship of public resources.

Although Kennedy’s rule is not a formal legislative proposal, it may prompt lawmakers and naming committees to revisit guidelines on who can be honored with public building names. The conversation could influence future decisions about naming rights and the broader use of public money for political purposes.