Trump Would Move Infamous Sign From Chicago to the White House If Elected

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has announced his plan to expand his branding if elected President of the United States in November.

2 minute read

April 1, 2016, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Trump Sign

Aneta Waberska / Shutterstock

Citing the quality of his signs and his desire to "piss off" Blair Kamin, the Pultizer Prize winning architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune, Donald Trump announced today that he's having his campaign staff look into opportunities for new locations to place "TRUMP" signs around Washington, D.C. when he's elected.

The idea was born out of a feud between Trump and Kamin, dating back to 2014, when a 2,891-square-foot sign bearing the word "Trump" was attached to the Trump International Hotel and Tower overlooking the Chicago River. In a review for the Tribune, Kamin called the sign "a poke in the eye."

Trump responded to the criticism by calling Kamin a "sucker" and a "bad critic." The whole episode caught the attention of Jon Stewart, while still with the Daily Show, in a segment humorously titled "Signfeud."

"I'm having my staff look at a few new locations for Trump signs in Washington, D.C.," said a noticeably smug Donald Trump to an appreciative audience at a campaign rally in Wisconsin today. "I can't decide if a new sign should go on the façade of the White House or on the North Lawn so it's easier to see in photos from Pennsylvania Avenue," added Trump. The Trump campaign staff released a statement later in the day that also listed the Rose Garden, the Oval Office, Air Force One, Marine One, and the roof of the White House (to be more visible from Marine One), as potential locations for new Trump signage.

Friday, April 1, 2016 in Planetizen April 1st Edition

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation