A former writer for *South Park* has made headlines by purchasing domain names related to the recently announced renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center. Toby Morton acquired the domains, including trumpkennedycenter.org and trumpkennedycenter.com, last August, anticipating the announcement from the White House that was made public last week.
Morton, who was involved in the iconic animated series from 2001 to 2003, stated, “As soon as Trump began gutting the Kennedy Center board earlier this year, I thought, ‘Yep, that name’s going on the building.’” His foresight proved correct when President Trump officially announced the renaming in December 2025.
Political Activism Through Satire
Morton often engages in what he describes as political activism by purchasing domain names and transforming them into satirical websites. He indicated that the Kennedy Center, an esteemed cultural institution, should not be reduced to a tool for personal branding. “Once it was treated like personal branding, satire became unavoidable,” he told *The Washington Post*.
Currently, Morton holds domains related to various political figures, including sites focused on Nancy Mace’s gubernatorial campaign in South Carolina and a potential Senate campaign for Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2026. His satirical approach often targets politicians from both major parties, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. One of his websites, ResignChuck.com, criticizes Schumer’s perceived inadequacies in opposing Trump.
Morton has plans for the Trump-Kennedy domains, stating, “It’ll absolutely reflect the absurdity of the moment. Lots of surprises.” Although he has not yet developed the sites, he aims to highlight the current political climate through humor.
Controversy Surrounding the Name Change
The renaming of the Kennedy Center has sparked significant controversy and debate. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and the center was established as a living memorial to his legacy. Many members of the Kennedy family have expressed disapproval of the name change, including Kerry Kennedy, who threatened to remove Trump’s name from the building after he leaves office, stating she would take a “pickax” to it.
Former House historian Ray Smock noted that any name changes would require congressional approval, as legislation explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from altering the center’s memorial status. Despite this, President Trump expressed surprise and honor at the board’s decision to rename the center after him.
The Trump administration has actively worked to reshape the Kennedy Center, with the president taking a more hands-on approach during his second term. This includes overhauling the leadership and hosting events that traditionally saw presidents as spectators. The changes align with Trump’s broader agenda to challenge what he describes as “woke” culture within federal cultural institutions.
Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi defended the renaming as consistent with past practices, suggesting it mirrors the State Department’s naming of the Institute of Peace after Trump. She also emphasized that the memorial aspect of the Kennedy Center remains intact despite the name addition.
As the cultural landscape continues to evolve under the current administration, Morton’s satirical endeavors illustrate the intersection of politics and art, reflecting the ongoing discourse surrounding the Kennedy Center’s new identity.
