The U.S. Institute of Peace building in Washington has been formally rebranded as the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace” following a directive from the Department of State. The renaming occurred on Wednesday, just ahead of a scheduled peace agreement signing ceremony between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the venue.
Founded as an independent, Congressionally-funded nonprofit think tank, USIP has recently become embroiled in legal battles with the Trump administration over attempts to cut staff and budgets. The State Department announced the change on social media, stating the move was made “to reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history” and adding that “the best is yet to come.”
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly shared the announcement with the comment “Congratulations, world,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed the decision by calling Trump the “President of Peace” and noting it was time for the department to “display that.”
The rebranding represents a significant shift in the administration’s approach to the institute, which earlier this year was at the center of controversy when the Trump administration removed staff and replaced leadership until judicial intervention halted the changes. The future of the organization remains uncertain as legal proceedings continue.
This renaming is part of a broader pattern of high-profile rebrandings since Trump began his second term in January. Previous changes include redesignating the Department of Defense as the Department of War, renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and reverting Denali to Mount McKinley. Additionally, Republican lawmakers have proposed various tributes including a $500 bill featuring Trump’s portrait and renaming Dulles International Airport in his honor.
The modern-day USIP website currently describes the institute as “the nation’s independent, nonpartisan institute that supports the Executive Branch in resolving violent conflict abroad,” though its future direction under the new name remains unclear.