Braggadocio refers to empty, arrogant boasting or proud, exaggerated talk about one’s achievements, courage, or importance, often masking insecurity. It’s characterized by showboating, swagger, and self-importance. Sounds like a perfect description of Trump on a good day.
His thing with Marilyn Monroe aside, John F Kennedy was an inspirational President for America and, as such, Congress voted after his assassination that the Performing Art Center, completed in 1958, be named in his honour – The John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. In any case, just being assassinated while in office normally ensures immortality, but he deserved it. As opposed to Trump, he actually fought in a vicious war, WWII, and did not use fictitious bone spurs to get out of it. He commanded a small motor torpedo boat in the ‘slot’ of the Solomon Islands and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions over a period of six days in saving his crew when his boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer.
Fast forward to his presidency. His impact on geopolitics and American self-belief was significant. On January 20, 1961, he delivered his inaugural address with the conclusion that inspired a generation with the words, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. …” He never boasted about his crowd size nor did he insult his predecessors or talk about himself. Rather he was unifying and focussed on the future of America and its leadership role in the world.
After the erection of the infamous Berlin Wall, he visited West Berlin to reassure them of US support by declaring “Ich bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner). Although lagging behind the USSR in the space race, in 1963 he committed America to landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade which they did with five months to spare.
But his biggest achievement was staring down the Soviet Union. The nuclear arms race was becoming deadly serious when US intelligence picked up in late October 1962 that Russia intended placing nuclear missiles close offshore in Cuba. Kennedy decided on a naval blockade of Cuba and although nuclear tensions ratcheted up, he stood firm until Russia backed down. This is diametrically opposite to Trump’s craven sucking up to Russia for personal enrichment in the post-war reconstruction.
Compared to Trump, JFK was a giant yet Trump had the temerity to have his tacky name tacked onto the Memorial Center’s existing name. The only thing he has in common with JFK is the name of John. When asked about the change, he feigned surprise and pretended he had nothing to do with it. Pull the other one.
Shortly after taking office, Trump fired all the Center’s board members, and replaced them with stooges, who then voted to make him chairman of the board. He teased the name change and, although superficially nothing was happening, a lot was obviously going on behind the scenes. This is witnessed by the fact that after the Board voted for the change, the extra signage was immediately installed on 18 December 2025.
It remains to be seen whether it will remain so. The original name was conferred by an Act of Congress, hence a change to it would also need Congressional approval. In typical Trump style, thinking he is master of the universe, he acts faster than the system and then dares Congress or the legal system to overcome their inherent inertia to thwart him. Perhaps it is appropriate that Trump’s name has been attached to the Center for the Performing Arts after all, since both of Trump’s presidencies have been a gigantic over-the-top metaphorical cosplay dedicated to himself.
