Fact Check: Does Trump want to rename Dulles Airport and New York's Penn Station after himself?
WASHINGTON, DC: Claims have been circulating on social media platforms that President Donald Trump wants to rename Dulles Airport and New York’s Penn Station after himself. The claim has sparked speculations among many, with netizens questioning the authenticity of the claim. Let us analyse the rumor and fact-check the claim.
Claim: Donald Trump wants to rename an airport and a station after himself
According to the rumor, Trump demanded that Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) agree to put Trump’s name on Penn Station in New York and Washington’s Dulles International Airport.
In exchange, the president would lift his freeze on $16 billion that had been slated for a new rail tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey.
The rumor was first reported by Punchbowl News, citing two anonymous people who claim to be familiar with the conversation.
Fact Check: The rumor is true
The claims appear to be true, as Punchbowl’s report has been cited by several news media outlets, including NBC.
Although it has not been officially confirmed by the White House or Trump himself, the claim is largely true based on recent reporting from credible media outlets.
The president indeed told Schumer that he would release billions in federal funding for the Gateway Project, a major rail infrastructure initiative involving new Hudson River tunnels connecting New York and New Jersey, with over $16 billion in earmarked funds.
In exchange, Schumer would need to support renaming the above-mentioned airport and station after Trump.
However, according to reports, Schumer rejected the idea and told Trump he lacked the authority to even make it happen.
Kennedy Center renamed after Donald Trump
The new development comes after the president announced the renaming of the Kennedy Center in Washington to the Trump-Kennedy Center.
New signage bearing Trump’s name was installed at the Kennedy Center on December 19, one day after the institution’s board of trustees voted to rename the historic performing arts venue in his honor.
The updated name, according to the board’s decision, is now 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.'
Despite the installation of new signage, serious questions remain about whether the board of trustees has the legal authority to rename the performing arts center.
Congress formally established the Kennedy Center as a national memorial to President Kennedy. Legal experts have noted that altering its name may require congressional approval rather than a unilateral board decision.
The decision immediately drew criticism from the Kennedy family, who have long viewed the center as a lasting tribute to John F. Kennedy’s legacy.
