A few months ago, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia made the case that Donald Trump is obsessed with imposing his name on things because the president knows that “no one will honor him when he’s gone.” When New York magazine asked the Republican for his reaction to the criticism, Trump responded with unexpected candor.

“That’s true,” he replied, referring to Ossoff’s comment. “Nobody will do it once I’m gone. When I leave here, nobody will.”

With this in mind, Trump’s self-glorification crusade continues, with a special emphasis on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

There’s been a whirlwind of events surrounding the long-standing institution this week, but as things stand, Trump loyalists on the center’s board have closed the building — a move they made after a federal judge again blocked their efforts to add Trump’s name, at least in some capacity, to the Kennedy Center.

Soon after, the president himself argued in writing that the Kennedy Center is in such dire straits that it must be closed so that repair work can begin, but he quickly added that the work will not happen unless his name is featured on the building. In a piece for The Atlantic, Tom Nichols explained, in describing Trump’s position, “That’s not an offer of help; it’s a shakedown — or, in more direct terms, political blackmail.”

Late Wednesday, the president spoke briefly to reporters, one of whom asked why it’s “so important” to Trump to have his name included on the Kennedy Center.

The Republican described this as “a very easy question to answer,” adding that the institution is a “mess” that he intends to clean up. “So for the Trump administration, for me to get involved and to take that on long term, and to carry it or to raise money to carry it, I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition,” he added.

In case that weren’t quite enough, Trump added that without him, the Kennedy Center is “going to close,” adding, “It’ll end up being ripped down.”

In other words, for the second time in as many days, the incumbent president made the case that the future of the Kennedy Center is very much in doubt unless his ego is addressed to his satisfaction.

Looking ahead, there is an ongoing legal dimension to consider: The fact that Team Trump has indefinitely closed the performing arts center is the subject of another lawsuit, and on Thursday morning, the president and his allies are expected to explain to a federal court, in writing, why the building is closed and whether the latest moves violate a recent injunction that was intended to keep the center open.

But there are also lingering questions about the scope of Trump’s plans.

Shortly after he spoke about the possibility of the Kennedy Center being “ripped down,” the president was seen through the windows of Air Force One examining what appeared to be a large printout about the Kennedy Center being demolished.

Bill Pulte, the highly controversial director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, can be seen standing by Trump as he looks over the printout, and he was seen carrying poster boards as officials exited Air Force One. Pulte’s job has nothing to do with the Kennedy Center, but his portfolio has been ridiculously broad throughout the president’s second term.

As for Trump’s focus with 47 days remaining before Election Day 2026, it’s good to get a fresh look at what the president is prioritizing at crunch time.

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