The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has officially renamed itself the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. This is stated in a statement from the US State Department.
Since March of this year, the Trump administration has been trying to establish control over USIP, a non-profit independent organization created by the US Congress in 1984.
In a statement, the US State Department said that the name of the institute was changed so that it was “associated with the best mediator in the history of the country” and now reads “Donald J. Trump Peace Institute”.
Above the entrance to the USIP building, immediately above the former inscription “United States Institute of Peace”, a sign with the name of Donald J. Trump was installed.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly, commenting on the situation, said that USIP “was once a useless institution that spent $50 million annually but never ensured peace.”
“And now the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, which rightfully bears the name of the president who ended eight wars in less than in a year, will be a powerful reminder of what strong leadership can achieve for global stability,” Kelly said.
On the USIP website, the institution describes itself as an independent organization “dedicated to preventing violent conflict and promoting peace agreements abroad in the interests of the United States.” The agency’s description emphasizes that USIP does not fall within the legal definitions of a “government-owned corporation” or a “government-controlled corporation.”
The legal process that began in March when the Trump administration took steps to bring USIP under executive authority remains unfinished. The final decision regarding the establishment has not yet been made.