A New Domain Name Takes Aim at Trump's Artistic Ambitions
In a move that echoes his biting satire on television, writer Toby Morton has purchased the "Trump Kennedy Center" domain name, mirroring the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's plans to rebrand the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the Trump Kennedy Center.
Morton, a TV writer and producer best known for his work on South Park, had been tracking the president's move to alter the institution's name, which he anticipated would be met with fierce opposition from performers and artists alike. Now, at trumpkennedycenter.org, Morton has created an alternate reality that wittily subverts Trump's vision.
Visitors to the website find a show listing for "The Epstein Dancers" instead of classical music or theater performances. The domain name serves as a commentary on Trump's own associations with financier Jeffrey Epstein and his reputation for mocking artists and dismissing cultural institutions.
"It's almost performance art in itself," Morton said about the move, acknowledging that the irony is breathtaking given Trump's history of disrespecting the arts. By taking ownership of this new domain, Morton is using satire to highlight the contradictions between Trump's boasts as an artistic patron and his actual track record on culture.
This latest development raises questions about the role of comedy in holding power accountable. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have long used their show to critique politics, often employing humor that can be uncomfortable but effective in getting a point across.
While Morton's purchase may not change the fundamental direction of the Trump administration, it serves as a potent reminder that satire has become an integral part of the national conversation. By embracing this new domain and using it as a platform for commentary, Morton is ensuring that Trump's attempts to rebrand himself as an artistic patron will be met with ridicule – a fitting response in a climate where comedy has emerged as a powerful counterpoint to politics.
In a move that echoes his biting satire on television, writer Toby Morton has purchased the "Trump Kennedy Center" domain name, mirroring the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's plans to rebrand the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the Trump Kennedy Center.
Morton, a TV writer and producer best known for his work on South Park, had been tracking the president's move to alter the institution's name, which he anticipated would be met with fierce opposition from performers and artists alike. Now, at trumpkennedycenter.org, Morton has created an alternate reality that wittily subverts Trump's vision.
Visitors to the website find a show listing for "The Epstein Dancers" instead of classical music or theater performances. The domain name serves as a commentary on Trump's own associations with financier Jeffrey Epstein and his reputation for mocking artists and dismissing cultural institutions.
"It's almost performance art in itself," Morton said about the move, acknowledging that the irony is breathtaking given Trump's history of disrespecting the arts. By taking ownership of this new domain, Morton is using satire to highlight the contradictions between Trump's boasts as an artistic patron and his actual track record on culture.
This latest development raises questions about the role of comedy in holding power accountable. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have long used their show to critique politics, often employing humor that can be uncomfortable but effective in getting a point across.
While Morton's purchase may not change the fundamental direction of the Trump administration, it serves as a potent reminder that satire has become an integral part of the national conversation. By embracing this new domain and using it as a platform for commentary, Morton is ensuring that Trump's attempts to rebrand himself as an artistic patron will be met with ridicule – a fitting response in a climate where comedy has emerged as a powerful counterpoint to politics.
like what's next, him hosting a cooking show or something?! 
anyway i think this new domain is genius, toyota morton is hilarious and on point as always. satire is literally the best way to call out trump's nonsense. he thinks he's an artist now? give me a break! 
at least morton's got some balls for trying this out, even if it is just a website. kudos to him for speaking truth to power (or in this case, trying to silence it) 
. I mean, who tries to rebrand some iconic cultural institution with their own name? It's like trying to put a new face on a old, creepy doll... just not gonna happen 
. And yeah, Morton's website is a sick burn – almost too perfect 
. The fact that Trump can't even get this right without someone being one step ahead of him is just... something 
Toby Morton just bought the "Trump Kennedy Center" domain name and created this crazy alternate reality website! It's like he's taking Trump's ego to the next level 
. This is what satire is all about! 
interesting 
the fact that Toby Morton created this whole thing from scratch just for the domain name is insane 
. Interesting how the website is essentially poking fun at Trump's reputation, almost as if he invited himself to be ridiculed 
Toby Morton's website has been getting like 500k views per day since he took it down lol! 
meanwhile, trump's approval ratings are still sinking 
anyway, this is gonna be a wild ride with toby morton at the helm 
. I mean, come on, Donald Trump thinks he can just buy his way into being an "artistic patron" with a fancy new name? Meanwhile, Toby Morton is using satire to hold him accountable for all the times he's mocked artists and disrespected cultural institutions 
. The question is, will it work? Will satire become the new standard for holding power accountable in this country? Only time (and more clever moves like Morton's) will tell 
I think it's pretty smart of Toby Morton to buy that domain name and turn it into a commentary on Trump's art "ambitions". Like, if he really wants to be taken seriously as an artistic patron, why not take some actual steps? 
It's definitely worth keeping an eye on what else Morton comes up with in this project... 
who needs comedy gold when you've got satire like this? matt stone and trey parker should totes take notes 
. It's like, remember when South Park used to be all the rage? Matt Stone and Trey Parker were like, the ultimate satirists... and now they're just part of the landscape, you know?
gotta love how south park creators are still holding him accountable like they're the comedy cops of america 
. The fact that he can't even get the name right without someone calling him out 
!
we drove like 10 hours straight and stopped at this weird museum that had like a giant dinosaur skeleton on display lol it was so random but also kinda awesome 
& how hes always dissing artists 
.
. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, but more so as a commentary on how Trump's track record on culture speaks for itself.
. It shows how satire can be used to hold people in power accountable without being too preachy or heavy-handed. I love how Morton is using his TV experience to create something like this – it's almost like a form of resistance through comedy . I wonder if Trump will actually try to use this site for anything other than ridicule