Former South Park Writer Buys Trump Kennedy Center Domains as Satirical Protest

A former television comedy writer has drawn attention after it emerged he secured internet domain names linked to a controversial proposal involving the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

According to reporting by The Washington Post, comedian Toby Morton, known for his work on South Park and Mad TV, purchased the domain names trumpkennedycenter.org and trumpkennedycenter.com in August. The move came as former President Donald Trump publicly floated the idea of renaming the Kennedy Center in his honor.

Morton said he acted after observing changes to the Kennedy Center board earlier in the year, anticipating that the institution could become a focal point of political branding. He described the domain purchases as a form of satire, arguing that the arts center has historically stood apart from individual political identities.

Legal scholars and critics have questioned whether any attempt to rename the Kennedy Center would conflict with federal legislation dating back to the 1960s, which formally designated the venue in President John F. Kennedy’s name. In recent weeks, several artists and organizations have distanced themselves from the center amid the debate, citing concerns over its cultural independence.

Morton stated he has not been contacted by Trump or his representatives regarding the domains, nor has he received any request to sell them. He added that the websites are intended to reflect what he views as the broader cultural moment, using humor to comment on the intersection of politics and the arts.

The controversy has also coincided with declining viewership for the most recent Kennedy Center Honors broadcast. Preliminary Nielsen data showed the annual program drew its smallest television audience to date, down sharply from the previous year.

While the future of the Kennedy Center’s leadership and branding remains uncertain, the episode underscores how political debates increasingly extend beyond institutions themselves and into digital and cultural spaces.