Introduction to the Trump-Kennedy Center Controversy

Comedy writer Toby Morton has made headlines by purchasing the domain names ‘trumpkennedycenter.org’ and ‘trumpkennedycenter.com’, in anticipation of President Donald Trump renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts after himself.

Background on Toby Morton

Morton, a writer for ‘South Park’ and ‘Mad TV’, has a history of acquiring domain names that sound legitimate, only to use them for parody websites that impersonate public figures. He has targeted politicians, leaders, and organizations, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andrew Cuomo, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

The Trump-Kennedy Center Domain Purchase

In an interview with The Washington Post, Morton explained that he purchased the domains in August, after Trump began making changes to the Kennedy Center board. Morton stated, ‘It’s meant to honor culture, not ego. Once it was treated like personal branding, satire became unavoidable.’

Reactions and Support

After news of the domain purchases broke, Morton received a large number of messages from creatives, writers, designers, and performers offering to contribute and help elevate the parody websites. On Instagram, Morton posted, ‘A few longtime heroes of mine are quietly on board now… Maybe don’t mess with an institution like The Kennedy Center? The support is growing.’ He also wrote, ‘Watch this space.’

Implications and Future Plans

While the Trump-Kennedy Center websites have not yet gone live, Morton’s previous work suggests that they could be brutal parodies of the president and his administration. The move has sparked debate about the role of satire in politics and the power of domain name ownership.