By Steve Rodriguez
Preface
Major college sports are dominated by the concept of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), which allows student-athletes to control how their name, image or likeness is commercially used. Since 2021, college athletes have been allowed to monetize their personal brand without losing a scholarship or team eligibility. In many cases, star athletes can make millions of dollars.
However, one gets the impression NIL at the White House means the current President of the United States aggressively seeks like a king of old to unashamedly stamp his name, image and likeness on numerous objects, institutions and concepts as a way of signaling success and legitimizing his legacy. Proposing his own image be placed on a commemorative two hundred and fifty dollar bill – though federal law bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency – is just one example.
Name, Image, Likeness at the White House
Plaster his face on a two-fifty note?
Name, Image, Likeness goes beyond game day.
Needy king keeps weighty ego afloat.
New class of warships allows him to gloat.
Former 4-F now shouts, “Anchors away.”
Plaster his face on a two-fifty note?
Gold Card for aliens his to promote.
And D.C. may soon Don a tall archway.
Weighty king keeps needy ego afloat.
Oops! Kennedy Center judge…and I quote…
ruled “statutory overstep” at play.
Plaster his face on a two-fifty note?
In college, NIL seems to connote
greed is good, while White House version displays
the king needs rebranding to stay afloat.
Mount Rushmore visage would prove he’s the GOAT.
Darn! Strait of Trump still faces a delay.
Plaster his face on a two-fifty note?
Approval polls sink. Ego kept afloat.
