Politics
Critics Cast Monumental Shade Over Trump’s Latest Reported Demand
President Donald Trump reportedly wants his name on New York’s Penn Station and Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC.
Trump told Senator Chuck Schumer (Democrat, New York) that he would be willing to release federal funding for the Gateway tunnel project ― which the president froze last year ― in return for renaming the two transit hubs after him, according to a story first reported by Punchbowl News and later confirmed by CNN and NBC, among others.
Trump has used his name as a brand for decades, especially on his real estate projects and golf clubs. But since returning to the White House, he’s been trying to force his name onto a much broader range of interests. He’s announced a new “Trump class” of US battleships, a TrumpRx prescription drug portal, and even investment accounts for children called Trump Accounts.
Trump even added his name to the US Institute of Peace building and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. After artists objected to the latter and canceled their performances at the venue, the president announced a two-year shutdown for renovations.
Now, Trump is reportedly trying to make previously approved funds for the Gateway project contingent on adding his name to more places.
Schumer has reportedly rejected the offer.
“The president stopped the funding, and he can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers,” an unnamed source close to Schumer told NBC.
Several other lawmakers also fired back:
Other critics mocked Trump for even wanting his name on a pair of not-exactly-beloved transit hubs:
And still others mocked the president for holding up a massive infrastructure project ― and all the jobs involved ― because of his own ego: