Trump puts name on government buildings, passes, ships

Key facts

• President Trump is the first sitting president to appear on the America the Beautiful pass.
• The United States Institute of Peace has been renamed the "Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace."
• A new class of US Navy battleships will be named the "Trump-class."
• The USS Defiant, a "Trump-class" battleship, is slated for procurement in 2028.
• A lawsuit has been filed to block Trump's image from appearing on the America the Beautiful pass.

President Donald Trump has overseen the renaming of government buildings and programs after himself, continuing a practice he began before entering the White House. These changes have occurred despite criticism and ongoing lawsuits.

In December 2025, the Department of the Interior announced that Trump would appear on the 2026 America the Beautiful pass, which grants access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites. Trump is the first sitting president to be featured on the pass, which typically displays winning photographs from the National Parks Foundation's annual contest. The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging this decision, alleging it violates federal law. A White House spokesperson called the lawsuit "frivolous."

Also in December 2025, the State Department renamed the United States Institute of Peace to the "Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace." A State Department spokesperson stated the renaming reflects Trump's commitment to peace through diplomacy and dealmaking. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly supported the decision, calling Trump "the President of Peace."

Additionally, Trump announced a new "Trump-class" of ships as part of a plan to bolster American shipbuilding. The White House's $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027 includes $65.8 billion for the "Golden Fleet" initiative, which involves constructing a new class of US Navy battleships named after Trump. The first vessel, the USS Defiant, is slated for procurement in 2028.