Donald Trump's name could reportedly be headed for one of America's most sensitive historic sites, with Ford's Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, allegedly appearing on a list of landmarks being considered for a presidential naming honour.
The bombshell claim was reported on 23 September, citing people familiar with the discussions. However, the White House has fiercely denied the report, creating a sharp dispute over whether the extraordinary proposal was ever seriously considered.
Trump Name Reportedly Discussed for Ford's Theatre
Trump administration staffers have been discussing ideas for honouring the president, with Ford's Theatre reportedly among the locations that came up.
The report said one administration official acknowledged that the idea had been discussed but did not know how seriously it was being considered or where the proposal currently stood.
The possibility reportedly triggered a flurry of discussion among people connected to the historic site.
A former Trump aide also reportedly suggested that some staffers were developing ideas to honour the president in an effort to stay in his good graces.
There is no indication that an official renaming process has begun.
The Theatre Holds a Dark Place in History
Ford's Theatre carries an extraordinary connection to America's past.
On 14 April, 1865, Lincoln was watching Our American Cousin at the Washington theatre when Booth entered the presidential box and shot him. Lincoln was taken across the street to Petersen House, where he died the following morning.
The theatre was subsequently closed for more than a century before reopening in 1968. It later became part of the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, while continuing to host live performances.
That history is why reports of potentially attaching Trump's name to the building immediately attracted attention.
The proposal also raises legal questions because the site's official designation is governed by federal law.
White House Brands Report 'Fake News'
The Trump administration has rejected the allegation outright.
The White House called the MS NOW report 'Total Fake News trash' and accused the outlet of publishing claims based on an anonymous source who supposedly did not know what was happening.
Trump administration officials also disputed the report, with the Interior Department saying the claim was not true.
The competing accounts leave the central question unresolved: MS NOW says people familiar with the matter described discussions about Ford's Theatre, while the administration says the proposal was never seriously considered.
Kennedy Center Fight Adds To Naming Controversy
The Ford's Theatre report surfaced shortly after a separate dispute over Trump's name and the Kennedy Center.
Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center after its board, now aligned with the president, approved the change. A judge subsequently blocked efforts to restore Trump's name to the building after it had been challenged.
Against that backdrop, the reported Ford's Theatre proposal has generated an especially striking historical question because of the building's direct connection to Lincoln's assassination.
For now, however, there is no confirmed plan to rename Ford's Theatre after Trump. The White House maintains that the report is false, while the original report says the idea was discussed by people involved in the administration.
