Nearly nine months after the Trump administration seized control of the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters, the building has re-emerged with a new name: “Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace.”
Workers arrived at the National Mall building early Wednesday, placing huge silver letters on both sides of the facade. The letters went just to the left of the original institute name, making Trump’s name impossible to miss. The president was scheduled to host a peace signing ceremony later that day with the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The White House said the renaming was meant to show “what strong leadership can accomplish for global stability.” Spokeswoman Anna Kelly added, “Congratulations, world!”
The move comes after months of chaos at the institute.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
In March, the administration took over the building, firing most staff, emptying offices, and removing the institute’s symbol, a dove carrying an olive branch. The White House described the organization as “bloated” and “useless,” insisting Trump’s own diplomacy was more effective.
Trump has repeatedly claimed he ended long-standing conflicts, including the decades-long tension between Rwanda and Congo. Many observers note these claims are false or exaggerated, but the White House continues to use them to justify the takeover.
George Foote, a former lawyer for the institute, said on Wednesday, “Renaming the U.S.I.P. building adds insult to injury.” The building is at the center of a legal battle. Congress created the institute and funded it with federal money, but former staff argue it is not part of the executive branch. That means the president should not have authority over the building.
In May, a federal judge returned the building to its original leadership, calling Trump’s takeover a “gross usurpation of power.” The administration immediately appealed, and a higher court gave the building back to the White House while the case moves forward.
The current head of the institute, a former State Department official removed from the Trump administration, has not outlined plans for the building or the organization. Some staff were briefly rehired to prepare for the signing event, while former employees continue their international work independently.
Many plan to protest Thursday’s ceremony, seeing the building as a national symbol of diplomacy that has been turned into a stage for self-promotion.
The building itself is 150,000 square feet of glass and steel, built in 2012 with federal and private funding. It sits on land owned by the Navy, which transferred control to the institute over 20 years ago. Its modern design was meant to represent peace and openness, qualities now overshadowed by Trump’s branding.
The legal fight over the building is expected to continue into next year. Foote remains confident that the original purpose will be restored. “The rightful owners will ultimately prevail,” he said, “and the U.S. Institute of Peace and the building will return to their statutory purpose.”
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
