WASHINGTON, DC — In a ceremony that park officials described as “surprisingly loud” and “architecturally reckless,” President Trump signed an executive proclamation Monday officially renaming the historic Booker T. Washington Memorial to the “The Booker T. Washington – President Donald J Trump National Memorial Heritage Legacy Experience & Visitor Synergy Plaza Presented in Partnership with Trump Inc.”, insisting the new title “honors both great men equally.”
Trump, who has previously renamed three federal buildings after himself and once attempted to trademark the word “monument,” told reporters the change was “a natural evolution of American history.”
“Booker T. Washington was fantastic, absolutely fantastic,” President Trump said. “And I think he’d be very proud — very proud — to stand next to me in history. Maybe even a little jealous.”
Historians immediately disagreed.
Dr. Lena Harwood, professor of American History at the University of Maryland, paused for a full eight seconds before responding.
“No,” she finally said. “Just… no.”
The National Park Service, caught off guard by the announcement, confirmed that the new signage will cost an estimated $14.7 million, largely because the name now requires a sign 42 feet long. Rangers have already expressed concern that the title will not fit on existing maps, brochures, or the side of the visitor shuttle.
Tourists appeared equally confused. “The sign is now bigger than the actual memorial,” said one visitor from Ohio. “I walked past the statue completely because the sign blocked it. I thought the sign was the memorial.”
The ceremony concluded with Trump unveiling a new bronze plaque featuring Washington’s biography, followed by a second plaque of equal size plus 4 inches listing Trump’s personal achievements, including “Most Golf Rounds Completed While in Office” and “Best Hair in a National Leadership Role (Self‑Awarded).”
Following the announcement, White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, was asked to clarify the reasoning behind the decision. She explained that the President “felt a spiritual kinship with Washington after reading the first two paragraphs of his Wikipedia page.” She went on to elaborate that the President “really connected with the journey, the struggle, the… overall vibe,” and that he “absolutely intends to finish the rest of the article when time allows.”, adding that the President “is a voracious reader when the material is inspirational and under 400 words.”
When reporters attempted to clarify the President’s grasp of Washington’s legacy, she replied, “He is aware that it’s significant,” before shifting abruptly into a prepared statement about “unity, heritage, and the importance of bold branding in public memory.”
Asked again whether the President understood Washington’s accomplishments, she
doubled down: “He is aware that it’s significant,” she repeated, before
returning, word for word, to the same prepared statement about “unity,
heritage, and the importance of bold branding in public memory.”
Reporters next turned to the possibility of additional landmark renamings. She quickly responded, “I can’t comment on ongoing naming operations,” inadvertently revealing a folder labeled “Mount Rushmore – Mount Trump More.” It was not immediately clear whether this referred to plans for the monument or simply a to‑do list.
As of press time, the Department of the Interior confirmed they are “evaluating the structural integrity of the memorial” after staff attempted to add a third plaque to the plans titled “Future Achievements,” which, according to internal documents, was projected to weigh more than the statue itself.
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