(NewsNation) — A “South Park” writer anticipated President Donald Trump would rename the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts after himself, so he bought domain names connected to the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Writer Toby Morton told The Washington Post that in August, he bought the “trumpkennedycenter.org” and “trumpkennedycenter.com” domains.
“As soon as Trump began gutting the Kennedy Center board earlier this year, I thought, ‘Yep, that name’s going on the building,’” Morton told the Post.
The writer, whose credits also include “MadTV,” buys political domains and turns them into satirical websites as a form of activism, The Post reported.
Morton said he was paying attention to news that the president would take over the performing arts center after removing existing board members, installing close Trump allies and hosting the Kennedy Center Honors as a satirical protest to raise awareness.
“The rest followed on schedule,” he told The Washington Post.
Morton told USA Today on Sunday that “both domains are currently parked through GoDaddy.”
Toby Morton: I’ve received positive feedback
The writer said once news broke that he bought the domain names, he received responses that were “overwhelmingly positive.”
“I’ve received a large number of messages from creatives, writers, designers, and performers offering to contribute and help elevate what comes next,” he told USA Today.
He added, “That enthusiasm is shaping the direction of the upcoming site, which will focus squarely on Trump’s narcissism, branding impulses, and the broader cultural implications of attaching his name to institutions that were meant to be civic, not personal.”
The Kennedy Center renamed after president
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Dec. 18 that the Kennedy Center board voted unanimously to rename the building the Trump-Kennedy Center.
“I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building,” she said on X.
Lawmaker sues Donald Trump
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to remove President Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, according to The Hill.
Beatty, an ex officio board member for the center, said adding the president’s name to the venue is a “flagrant violation” of the Constitution.
“Congress intended the Center to be a living memorial to President Kennedy and a crown jewel of the arts for all Americans, irrespective of party. Unless and until this Court intervenes, Defendants will continue to defy Congress and thwart the law for improper ends,” according to the lawsuit.