While public criticism swirls around the controversial renaming of Washington's Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, one comedy writer has moved beyond griping to direct, and hilariously pointed, action.
A Preemptive Digital Strike
Back in August, Toby Morton, a former writer for comedy giants "South Park" and "MAD TV," had a premonition. Observing Donald Trump and his allies taking over the Center's board, he predicted the institution's iconic name would be altered. "As soon as Trump began gutting the Kennedy Center board earlier this year, I thought, 'Yep, that name's going on the building,'" Morton told The Washington Post.
Unhappy with the prospective change, Morton took matters into his own hands. He proactively purchased the domain names for "TrumpKennedyCenter.org" and "TrumpKennedyCenter.com" to secure control over them. He then kept his acquisition quiet, waiting for the official, and in his view, "sketchy," name change announcement last week.
A History of Satirical Website Trolling
Although Morton's Trump-Kennedy Center sites are not yet live, his previous online activism offers a clear preview of what might be coming. In 2022, he purchased the domain name for New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and created a surface-level authentic-looking political website for her.
The fake site brutally trolled the politician with fabricated article headlines. These included "Stefanik Shares Blame For Shooting Spree" and "Elise Stefanik: 'Democrats Are Pedophiles,'" the latter a reference to an actual tweet she made about the national baby formula shortage that year.
Building a Creative Coalition Against "Branding Impulses"
Morton indicates his new project is drawing collaborative interest. He told USA Today that many creatives, including writers, designers, and performers, have reached out, "offering to contribute and help elevate what comes next."
This collective enthusiasm is guiding the development of the upcoming site. Morton says the focus will be squarely on Trump’s narcissism and branding impulses. It aims to critique the broader cultural implications of attaching a personal name to public institutions meant to be civic, not personal, entities.
The digital counter-stunt highlights a modern form of political satire, using the very tools of branding and online presence to critique and parody those in power.
