Trump says Chuck Schumer 'suggested' idea to rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport

This article has been updated to reflect Chuck Schumer's response to Trump's claims

Update: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday, Feb 6, denied President Trump’s claim that he suggested renaming Penn Station after the president, calling it an “absolute lie.”

“Absolute lie. He knows it. Everyone knows it,” Schumer wrote on the social platform X.

“Only one man can restart the project, and he can restart it with the snap of his fingers.”

-----------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump addressed reports on February 6 about a potential deal to rename major landmarks in exchange for infrastructure funding, insisting that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested the idea.

Recent media reports claimed the Trump administration offered billions in frozen funds for the Gateway rail tunnel project if New York’s Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport were renamed in the president’s honor. Trump denied initiating such a proposal during a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from the White House to Mar-a-Lago.

Trump says Schumer proposed renaming Penn Station, clarifies Dulles Airport separate

When asked whether he linked Gateway Tunnel funding to renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport after him, Trump rejected the claim. “He suggested that to me,” the president said, referring to Schumer. According to Trump, the conversation about the rebranding originated with the Democratic leader, not him. He stressed that Dulles Airport was a separate matter, noting, “Dallas airport is really separate” and that Congress is less involved in airport decisions.

Trump claims broad support for landmark renaming

The president also said the idea was suggested by multiple stakeholders, including unions, Democrats, and Republicans. “Uh but it was suggested by numerous people, unions, uh Democrats, Republicans, a lot of people suggested. Uh nothing’s been done on that,” he said, emphasizing that no formal action had been taken.

Significance of the Gateway Tunnel project

The Gateway Project is a major infrastructure initiative focused on repairing and expanding the rail link between New York and New Jersey. Its centerpiece is a century-old Hudson River tunnel, which carries thousands of daily commuters. The Northeast Corridor, where the tunnel sits, is the most heavily used passenger rail line in the US, handling more than 2,200 train movements and 800,000 passenger trips daily.

Trump’s remarks come after reports suggested he requested landmark renamings in exchange for funding. The president made clear that Schumer proposed the idea, not him, and no formal plan has been set in motion.