In Washington on December 4, the US Institute of Peace—a Congress‑created think‑tank—was renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, a change the White House says underscores President Trump’s vision for global stability.
The State Department took to X to explain the step: “This morning, the State Department renamed the former Institute of Peace to reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history,” and added, “Welcome to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. The best is yet to come.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly countered criticism by noting that the old USIP had wasted money, citing “$50 million per year … while delivering no peace.” She went on to say, “Now, the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, which is both beautifully and aptly named after a President who ended eight wars in less than a year, will stand as a powerful reminder of what strong leadership can accomplish for global stability.”
The renaming follows a legal showdown over the administration’s earlier attempt to wrest control of the federally funded but independent institute through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
According to The Hill, Judge Beryl Howell found that Trump officials had used “brute force” to seize the USIP headquarters, even though it was warned that the site did not fall under the executive branch.
Newsweek reported that the action proceeded “despite an ongoing legal battle over the administration’s attempt to seize control of what was an independent organisation.”
USA Today noted that the institute had sued the president and DOGE earlier in the year, challenging the occupation of its headquarters.
The New York Times dubbed the takeover “an extraordinary public showdown,” describing how most staff were dismissed, the organization gutted, and the dove‑and‑olive‑branch logo removed. Former USIP lawyer George Foote said the renaming “adds insult to injury” and that the rightful owners will ultimately prevail.
Many former staff, most of whom now carry on the institute’s international work independently, have said they will protest at Thursday’s signing ceremony where the newly renamed institute is set to host the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The USIP headquarters, established by Congress as a federally funded yet independent body, was built in 2012 entirely with private donations on Navy‑owned land. An appellate court ruling on control of the building is expected next year.
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