Congressman Cohen Condemns Renaming U.S. Institute of Peace for Donald J. Trump

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor this morning after learning that President Trump has had the U.S. Institute of Peace renamed in his honor. Trump dismantled the institute shortly after taking office and had its president removed forcibly by police.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

"The United States Peace Institute was created by the Congress of the United States. It's in a beautiful building and has served the function of trying to bring people together.

"In February, President Trump issued an executive order dismantling the United States Peace Institute. Subsequently, law enforcement removed the president of the Peace Institute forcibly from his office. And then the Trump administration fired every employee…The District Court has ruled it acted improperly…because the president didn't have the authority to dismantle it.

"Today, I've learned that President Trump has had his name, in massive letters, put over the Peace Institute, calling it the Donald J. Trump Peace Institute, none of which is legal. Will his ego stop staining this city?"

See the entire floor speech here.

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