Trump Reportedly Demands Penn Station and Dulles Airport Renamed After Him
Former President Donald Trump has reportedly made an audacious proposal to rename two major American transportation hubs in his honour. According to a Politico report, Trump suggested renaming New York's Penn Station and Washington-Dulles International Airport after himself during negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Gateway Tunnel Funding Frozen
The controversial proposal emerged during discussions about the New York/New Jersey Gateway Tunnel Project, a critical infrastructure initiative that would construct a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. The Trump administration had frozen $16 billion in funding for this project back in November, creating a significant impasse in its development.
Administration officials reportedly offered to release the frozen funds on one condition: that both Penn Station and Dulles International Airport be renamed to honour the former president. This extraordinary demand has sparked immediate backlash from political leaders and officials across New York and New Jersey.
New York Officials Respond with Mockery and Outrage
A source close to Senator Schumer dismissed the proposal outright, stating: 'There was nothing to trade. The president stopped the funding and he can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers.'
New York Governor Kathy Hochul's press office responded with pointed mockery, posting a photoshopped image of Trump Tower in Manhattan renamed 'Hochul Tower' with the simple caption: 'Counteroffer.'
Senator Kristen Gillibrand issued a strongly worded statement condemning the proposal: 'These naming rights aren't tradable as part of any negotiations, and neither is the dignity of New Yorkers. At a time when New Yorkers are already being crushed by high costs under the Trump tariffs, the president continues to put his own narcissism over the good-paying union jobs this project provides and the extraordinary economic impact the Gateway tunnel will bring.'
Legal Challenges Mount Against Funding Freeze
The controversy has escalated into legal territory, with New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filing a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan. The lawsuit seeks to declare the funding suspension unlawful and demands immediate resumption of payments to prevent construction delays.
Attorney General James emphasized the project's critical importance: 'Allowing this project to stop would put one of the country's most heavily used transit corridors at risk. Our tunnels are already under strain, and losing this project could be disastrous for commuters, workers, and our regional economy.'
This legal action follows a similar lawsuit filed by the Gateway Development Commission, the local panel overseeing the project, against the federal government.
Project Details and Historical Context
The Gateway Tunnel Project represents one of America's most significant infrastructure undertakings:
- Construction of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River
- Repair of the existing 116-year-old rail tunnel damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012
- Service for Amtrak and regional transit trains between New Jersey and New York City
- Funding secured through the 2021 federal infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden
- Construction work began in 2023
The funding freeze dates back to the early days of the government shutdown in September, during which Senator Schumer engaged in tense negotiations with Trump administration officials. White House budget director Russ Vought previously claimed the spending was based on unconstitutional diversity, equity and inclusion principles, while the US Department of Transportation stated it was reviewing any 'unconstitutional practices.'
Trump's Renaming History
This is not the first time Trump has sought to attach his name to prominent American landmarks. Most recently, in December, he renamed the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, announcing that the center would close for two years of renovations beginning July 4.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House, Senator Schumer, and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill for comment on the latest naming controversy, but responses have not yet been received.
The Gateway Tunnel Project remains at the center of this political storm, with its future funding now entangled in a debate about presidential legacy versus public infrastructure needs. As legal battles continue and political tensions rise, the fate of this critical transportation project hangs in the balance while the naming controversy captures national attention.
