President Donald Trump is facing fierce backlash after reports revealed he demanded that Penn Station in New York and Washington Dulles International Airport be renamed in his honor before he would release more than $16 billion in federal infrastructure funding.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was among the first to condemn the demand, calling it “sick, twisted, and egomaniacal” in a post on X.
He added, “The time is long overdue for sane Republicans to stand up to Trump.”
The funds are earmarked for the Gateway tunnel project, a major transit link connecting New York and New Jersey.
According to multiple outlets, including Punchbowl News and CNN, and as reported by The Hill, Trump made the demand directly to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) during a private meeting last month.
Schumer rejected the proposal outright, telling the president he had no authority to deliver on such a request.
Lawsuit Filed Over Funding Freeze
Trump’s administration has been holding up the critical funds, prompting officials in New York and New Jersey to sue.
Their complaint alleges that the freeze is unlawful and could result in the layoff of nearly 1,000 workers involved in the project.
The Gateway tunnel has long been considered one of the most important infrastructure undertakings in the country.
The project would add much-needed capacity and reliability to the Northeast Corridor, which serves millions of travelers each year.
Despite its importance, Trump has used the funding as leverage. As reported by CNN, the condition he floated to Schumer involved renaming both major transportation hubs after himself.
The White House has not commented on the reports, and Schumer’s office has declined to offer further details.
Democrats Slam the Demand
According to The Hill, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) called the demand “ridiculous.”
“These naming rights aren’t tradable as part of any negotiations, and neither is the dignity of New Yorkers,” Gillibrand said in a statement.
“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.”
History of Rebranding
The push to rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport is just the latest in a broader effort by Trump to attach his name to government-funded projects and institutions.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has rebranded or proposed renaming several high-profile entities, including the U.S. Institute of Peace, a “Trump-class” battleship, and the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center move has also sparked outrage. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the center’s board had voted unanimously to rename it the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
“I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center… have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center,” Leavitt posted on X. She cited Trump’s efforts to renovate and restore the venue.
But that claim was quickly challenged. Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson and a House candidate in New York, responded, “Microphones were muted and the board meeting and vote NOT unanimous.”
Schlossberg accused Trump of acting out of personal animosity, writing, “Trump explicitly motivated to act by JACK FOR NEW YORK.”
Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, added, “President Kennedy proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer. President Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy’s.”
Legal Roadblocks
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said renaming the Kennedy Center without Congress is not legal.
“The Kennedy Center Board has no authority to actually rename the Kennedy Center in the absence of legislative action,” Jeffries told reporters.
A similar hurdle exists with Penn Station and Dulles Airport. Even if Schumer had agreed to Trump’s demand, he wouldn’t have had the power to enact it.
Federal legislation would be needed, and while some conservative lawmakers have floated bills to rename Dulles, they have gained little traction and remain unlikely to pass.
Infrastructure Held Hostage
While the renaming attempt may seem symbolic, critics argue it has real-world consequences.
The Gateway tunnel project, already years in the making, could grind to a halt if funding remains frozen.
That means potential delays, higher costs, and job losses at a time when the region’s transportation system is already stretched thin.
Trump’s critics say the move is emblematic of his broader approach to power and governance, treating public institutions as extensions of his personal brand.
For now, the future of the Gateway tunnel remains uncertain. The courts will weigh in on whether the funding freeze is lawful, but what’s clear is that the demand to rename two of the nation’s busiest transit hubs has only intensified the political firestorm.
“It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial,” said former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA). “No matter what anyone says.”
IMAGE CREDIT: “Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.