Now Even Battleships: Trump Puts His Name on Various Institutions and Policies

The $1 Million Immigration Program Branded as "Trump Gold Card"

As President Donald Trump, during his second term in office, continues to attach his name to various institutions and policy initiatives, criticism has arisen over what is seen as an excessive use of presidential authority-especially after the unprecedented decision to name a new class of battleships after himself.

Yonhap News Agency

On the 22nd (local time), President Trump announced that the new battleships to be built by the U.S. Navy would be named the "Trump-class battleships."

Following the announcement, critics pointed out that there is no precedent for naming a warship after a sitting president. Washington, D.C.'s iconic performing arts venue, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was also recently renamed the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts," with new signage installed.

Earlier this month, the exterior wall of the Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), was inscribed with the name "Donald Trump Institute of Peace." USIP is an independent public institution established by the U.S. Congress in 1984.

The government-run pharmaceutical sales website set to launch next year has been named "TrumpRx," and the financial investment accounts that will support newborns born over the next four years have been named "Trump Accounts."

The immigration program, which grants U.S. permanent residency or stay permits in exchange for a $1 million (1.48 billion won) investment, has been branded the "Trump Gold Card."

Additionally, it has been reported that the new banquet hall being constructed as part of the demolition and expansion of the White House East Wing is also being considered to bear President Trump's name.

CNN reported on the 23rd that this series of actions-attaching his name everywhere-reveals both a sense of desperation to dominate attention during his first year back in the White House and a fear of not being remembered in the future. The network went on to criticize President Trump, suggesting that he appears to view the presidency as a source of unlimited power and sees the office and its immense authority as tools for self-promotion.

CNN also introduced voices criticizing the attempt to put his name on everything as a warning sign typical of figures who disregard democracy and idolize authoritarianism.

At the same time, CNN explained that, as Americans struggle with high prices, President Trump's focus on branding his name is likely to be attacked as prioritizing personal interests over those of the public, and that this attitude is also related to his recent decline in approval ratings.