Comedy writer Toby Morton bought the domain names “TrumpKennedyCenter.org” and “TrumpKennedyCenter.com” before the Kennedy Center’s official name change. Morton, who wrote for shows like South Park and MAD TV, now controls the online presence for the renamed institution. The official organization will likely be upset about this.
According to HuffPost, Morton saw the name change coming months before it happened. In August, President Trump started making major changes to the Center’s board. Morton told the media that he had a feeling about what would happen next.
“As soon as Trump began gutting the Kennedy Center board earlier this year, I thought, ‘Yep, that name’s going on the building,'” Morton said on Saturday. He kept the domain purchases secret until the name change was announced last week. This gave the official organization no time to buy the domains themselves.
Morton has a history of trolling politicians with domain names
The websites haven’t been launched yet, but Morton’s history of online activism indicates they will likely contain provocative and critical material. Back in 2022, Morton purchased the domain name associated with New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik. He designed the website to mimic the appearance of a legitimate political campaign site when visitors first landed on it.
However, the site was filled with fake article headlines that referenced Stefanik’s actual controversies. One headline read “Stefanik Shares Blame For Shooting Spree.” Another said “Elise Stefanik: ‘Democrats Are Pedophiles,'” which referenced a tweet she posted about the baby formula shortage that year.
Many people from the creative community have contacted Morton since the news broke. Writers, designers, and performers have offered to help with the upcoming sites. Morton said that their input is shaping the direction of the project. Reports suggest board meetings now focus on praising Trump rather than the institution’s original mission.
The site will focus on Trump’s narcissism, branding habits, and the cultural impact of putting his name on civic institutions. Morton believes these institutions should serve the public, not personal interests. One board member claims the name change wasn’t unanimous and was forced through despite objections.
The Trump-Kennedy Center sites will be a group effort from multiple talented people. The sites haven’t launched yet, but they promise to challenge how personal branding takes over public spaces.
Published: Dec 23, 2025 04:43 pm