MAGA senator risks Trump’s wrath after proposing a rule that would hit the president close to home

John Kennedy has built a political brand around colorful one-liners, but his latest one came with a warning attached.

The Louisiana Republican used a Sunday television appearance to challenge Donald Trump over taxpayer-funded advertising and the president’s push to attach his name to prominent institutions.

Kennedy also appeared fully aware that criticizing Trump could earn him a very modern form of presidential retaliation.

“I may end up with a sombrero on my head,” Kennedy joked before proposing a rule that would prevent politicians from having buildings named after them while they are still alive.

The reference was difficult to miss. Trump has previously shared AI-generated imagery mocking House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero.

Kennedy draws a line at taxpayer-funded promotion

Kennedy made his comments on CBS’ Face the Nation after host Margaret Brennan showed part of a government-funded television advertisement featuring Trump.

The ad praises the president and carries a disclosure stating that it was paid for by the US government.

Kennedy did not defend it.

“I don’t think any public official, including President Trump or Kristi Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money on private ads for themselves,” he said.

Federal appropriations law prohibits government funds from being used for “publicity or propaganda purposes,” although the White House has defended its advertising campaign as public service messaging rather than political advertising. Lawmakers from both parties have questioned the spending.

Kennedy acknowledged that the administration sees the matter differently.

“I think there ought to be a rule that you can’t — well, there probably is a rule — you can’t spend public money to promote yourself,” he said.

Then came the rule that could really annoy Trump

Kennedy did not stop with television commercials.

His next suggestion landed directly in another controversy surrounding Trump’s name.

“I also think that we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him while he’s alive,” Kennedy said. “I think that would settle a lot of this controversy.”

Louisiana already follows such a policy, according to Kennedy.

“We have that rule in Louisiana, and it works pretty well,” he added.

Trump has sought to add his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, making Kennedy’s proposal particularly relevant to the president. CBS also connected the senator’s remarks directly to the ongoing Kennedy Center dispute.

The senator’s sombrero joke gave the criticism an unmistakably Trump-era twist.

Trump has used AI-generated content to ridicule political opponents, including the widely circulated video depicting Jeffries wearing a sombrero and fake mustache.

Kennedy appeared to be suggesting that speaking against the president might put him next in line for similar treatment.

This article is made and published by Nicolai H, who may have used AI in the preparation