Tallahassee man changes middle name to 'Trump'

What's in a name?

For 80-year-old Donald McGovern — a whole lot.

The Tallahassee resident, who shares a last name with a failed Democratic presidential candidate (George '72), was elated when a candidate (Trump) with whom he shares a first name was elected as the 45th president of the U.S.

So much so that, days before Trump was sworn in, the retiree filed for a name change: He requested that his middle name, Charles, be changed to "Trump."

"Because I totally, totally believe in the man," McGovern said about his intention behind the name change. "Because I totally believe in his forwardness."

The change-of-name request, for which he filed on Jan. 6, was granted mid-April.

"He was originally an actor or a showman. That's what you have to be in today's world as a president," McGovern said.

He admires everything he's seen about the president so far in his first year in office.

"I don't understand a couple of things that he's done. But still, he's our chief and commander," McGovern said passionately, with tears in his eyes. McGovern, who like Trump worked in real estate, even speaks with a cadence similar to the president's. 

It's not the first time McGovern has expressed such staunch support for a president. His two kids' middle names are Kennedy, after slain President John F. Kennedy.

McGovern says he was a lance corporal in the Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam war. He remembers losing six of his comrades, one who died in his arms.

"We never give up. That's what you hear about the Marines, and it's true. We do not give up," McGovern said, adding he believes the president has that same determination despite not having served in the military himself.

"He will be recognized, I hope, not only by this country, but by the world — as a true, true, leader of leaders."

McGovern has lived in the capital city for decades and first moved here from Seattle after falling in love with a woman he met on a cruise. Even though their relationship ended, his love affair with Tallahassee didn't.

"I'll never leave it. I told my landlord, 'Bury me in the backyard,'" he said.

Reach Nada Hassanein at nhassanein@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @nhassanein_.