By now, it’s well known that many of former President Donald Trump’s decisions tend to spark controversy almost immediately. The latest to draw backlash involves his name being added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Although the change was approved by a board vote, the Associated Press reported that the board was “handpicked by Trump,” which only intensified public criticism. The backlash grew even stronger when the name change appeared to move forward quickly after the vote, drawing concerns about altering a historic cultural landmark.
One Washington, D.C., resident was among those who strongly opposed the decision. While passing by the Kennedy Center as workers were actively replacing the name, he noticed members of the press on site and began shouting toward them, voicing his anger and calling out what he believed was a deeply wrong move.
The Washington, D.C., resident did not hold back when criticizing Trump. He began by calling him a felon before continuing with sharper remarks. “This man is a grifter and a thug,” he said, adding that hundreds of people should have been gathered at the Kennedy Center protesting the change.
“Where is Congress?” he asked, a question that underscored his frustration. Pointing toward the ongoing work, he called the name replacement “a desecration of this building.” As a lifelong D.C. resident, he said he could not accept living in the city with “this man’s name on this building.”
He went on to make an emotional statement, explaining that he wanted to document the moment for his children and grandchildren so they could see the day he believed “democracy died in Washington, D.C.”
The man even brought his dog, George, into the moment, joking that his dog was upset as well. In a later interview, he questioned how the change was being carried out. “How can this happen? That he can do this under the cover of a blue tarp?” he asked. “This is history happening today, and we should all be shocked.”
His protest continued as he repeatedly described the action as a “desecration,” vowing, “I will never set foot in this building as long as his name is on it.” He ended by calling on Congress to intervene and remove Trump’s name immediately.
People Reacting to the Furious Washington DC Citizen’s Protest
It’s no surprise that a lot of people agreed with everything the Washington DC citizen said. Just like him, people were shocked, angry, and disappointed. This is why one person wrote, “He CANNOT DO THIS. He legally cannot do this. And he doesn’t care.” Another person then said, “Trump is a criminal. He breaks laws every day.” Someone else believed that Trump could get away with these decisions because he controls the officials. “When you control the law makers, and judges don’t have any real back bone, you can do this. Literally all of our law makers, judges, law enforcement, government has failed us. I now know how weak both sides are. Government needs an overhaul,” they wrote.
The backlash extended beyond the U.S., with even Canadians weighing in. One person wrote, “Only in a third-world dictatorship do you see leaders putting their names everywhere.”
Others questioned why the Washington, D.C., man appeared to be protesting alone when so many people claimed to be upset. “Whyyyyyy is he the only one upset??!! Where’sssss his backup??! 360 million people, and not one other person??? Complacency is the death of democracy,” one commenter wrote.
Another echoed the sentiment, asking, “How is he the only American upset about this???”
At the same time, many praised the man for speaking out. One supporter wrote, “THIS MAN IS AN AMERICAN HERO.”
Whether people agreed with his message or not, the outspoken resident clearly struck a nerve and gained a wave of attention and supporters online.
