White House names US Institute of Peace building after President Trump

The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) headquarters in Washington, D.C., has been officially renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. The White House unveiled the new designation on Wednesday, just one day before President Trump is set to host leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo for a regional peace agreement ceremony.

Earlier this year, Trump took steps to dismantle USIP, an independent nonprofit established by Congress. Law enforcement escorted the institute's president from the building, and most staff and board members were removed. The institute challenged the administration's actions in court, asserting that the president did not have the authority to terminate its leadership or personnel. In May, a federal judge deemed the actions unlawful, though the ruling was paused during the appeal process, allowing the changes to continue.

Following the dismissals, diplomats and former employees have expressed uncertainty over the buildings current function. Legal representatives for the former leadership criticized the renaming as an additional affront.

White House Statement

A White House spokesperson described USIP as previously being "a bloated, ineffective organization that spent $50 million annually without achieving meaningful peace results." The statement emphasized that the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace "will serve as a symbol of strong leadership advancing global stability." The administration also highlighted that the buildings name honors a president who reportedly ended eight conflicts in under a year.

President Trump has frequently portrayed himself as a peacemaker, citing accomplishments such as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and other international agreements during his tenure. He has even humorously referenced being a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year went to Venezuelan opposition leader Mara Corina Machado. The White House has suggested that Trumps peace initiatives exceeded the work of USIP.

Author: Ava Mitchell