Trump Reportedly Seeks Name on Transit Hubs in Exchange for Federal Funding
President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to put his name on major transportation hubs in exchange for releasing critical federal infrastructure funding, according to a new report. The president allegedly told New York Senator Chuck Schumer he would unfreeze more than $16 billion in stalled funding for the Gateway Tunnel project if the senator supported renaming New York's Penn Station and Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., after Trump.
Swift Rejection from Democrats
Sources indicate that Senator Schumer swiftly rejected the offer, stating he did not have the authority to rename the transportation hubs. The White House has not commented on the report, which was first detailed by Punchbowl News. This alleged proposal represents a significant escalation in Trump's well-documented penchant for naming structures after himself since returning to the White House.
"No. This is ridiculous," New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand declared on social media platform X. "These naming rights aren't tradable as part of any negotiations, and neither is the dignity of New Yorkers." Gillibrand accused the president of putting "his own narcissism over the good-paying union jobs" that the Gateway Project provides and demanded he release the frozen funds without conditions.
Gateway Project Funding Crisis
The Gateway Tunnel project, which aims to add a crucial new rail line between New York and New Jersey, faces an immediate funding crisis. The group overseeing the project filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration this week, seeking to have millions of dollars released that serve as payment for ongoing construction. Trump initially froze funding for both the Gateway Project and the Second Avenue subway project in October, citing a review of whether they complied with his diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
Officials warned this past week that the project is rapidly losing the funds needed to continue construction. The funding freeze has created significant uncertainty for one of the nation's most important infrastructure initiatives, which has been planned for years to address critical transportation bottlenecks in the Northeast corridor.
Political Backlash and Mockery
The reported naming proposal sparked immediate backlash from Democratic lawmakers across multiple states. New York Governor Kathy Hochul's office responded with an AI-generated image of Trump Tower renamed to "Hochul Tower" with the caption "Counteroffer." This satirical response highlighted the absurdity many Democrats see in the president's approach to infrastructure negotiations.
Maryland Representative April McClain Delaney introduced legislation to prevent the president from renaming the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, stating "Trump's ego branding is insane and selfish, and demonstrates his utter lack of leadership on issues of affordability, U.S. competitiveness and national security." New York Representative Jerry Nadler went further, calling Trump's attempt to rename infrastructure in exchange for funding "extortion" and demanding immediate release of Gateway Project funds.
Broader Pattern of Renaming
This latest controversy follows a broader pattern of the Trump administration renaming federal properties and institutions. Since returning to office, the president has used his authority to encourage Republicans and allies to rename various Washington, D.C., landmarks, including:
- The Kennedy Center (now reportedly called the Trump-Kennedy Center)
- A fleet of battleships
- The Institute of Peace
California Representative Eric Swalwell commented on the Dulles Airport proposal, noting "Just when you thought Dulles couldn't get any worse." Meanwhile, some observers took a more pragmatic view. Noted pollster Nate Silver remarked, "Two of the s***tiest transit hubs in America, I'd take the deal," highlighting the poor condition of both Penn Station and Dulles International Airport.
Legacy Concerns and Infrastructure Priorities
Representative Nadler summarized Democratic concerns about the president's priorities, writing: "Donald Trump's legacy will not be defined by where he slapped his name; it will be defined by the mess he left our nation's most important infrastructure project." This statement reflects broader concerns that the president is prioritizing personal branding over substantive infrastructure development that could benefit millions of Americans.
The controversy raises fundamental questions about how federal infrastructure funding should be allocated and whether naming rights should ever be part of such negotiations. As the Gateway Project faces potential shutdown due to funding shortages, the political standoff continues with no immediate resolution in sight.
