President Donald Trump hosts a peace deal signing at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump expressed his delight at the renaming of a Washington institute in his honour.
“It’s a great honour,” said Trump, speaking at the newly titled Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on Thursday.
He hosted the signing of a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the venue.
Trump effusively thanked the African leaders for attending the ceremony at the “spectacular” institute.
“It means maybe more because we are here together for the first time ever in this building — brand new beautiful building,” Trump added.
The building was originally constructed in 2011 as the United States Institute of Peace.
The State Department announced the renaming to honour “the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history”.
Trump has frequently expressed a desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
He claims to have resolved eight global conflicts since returning to office in January.
The president is also a frontrunner for a new peace prize to be awarded by FIFA on Friday.
Trump jokingly referred to another Washington venue as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” during his remarks.
The institute was originally created in 1984 as a non-profit conflict prevention organisation.
Trump ordered its dismantlement in February before his administration seized control.
This renaming is part of a broader trend of putting Trump’s brand on Washington landmarks.
He has redecorated the Oval Office and is building a new $300 million White House ballroom.
Proposals have also been made to put Trump’s name on a stadium and an airport.
A Republican bill has even suggested adding his face to Mount Rushmore. – AFP
