A group of House Republicans are trying to rename Washington, D.C.’s, main international airport after former President Donald Trump. In an announcement on Friday, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) revealed the effort that would rename Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia as the Donald J. Trump International Airport if successful.
“In my lifetime, our nation has never been greater than under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump. As millions of domestic and international travelers fly through the airport, there is no better symbol of freedom, prosperity, and strength than hearing ‘Welcome to Trump International Airport’ as they land on American soil,” Reschenthaler told Fox News.
If the bill manages to pass, it would make the second airport in the D.C. area named for a Republican president after Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The two-page bill has six co-sponsors, including Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Barry Moore (R-AL).
Speaking to Fox News, Moore said, “In 1998, Congress renamed the National Airport in Washington after one of our great presidents, Ronald Reagan. It is only fitting that we would do the same for another one of our greatest presidents, Donald J. Trump, especially as he stands against the onslaught of weaponized government to fight for Americans like us.”
“I can see no more fitting recognition than naming both airports in our nation’s capital after America’s two best presidents: DCA after President Reagan and Dulles after President Trump,” Gosar stated.
The lawmakers are also pushing for more than a name designation. According to the bill, any “reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States” to the airport shall be considered a reference to “Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
Dulles Airport, one of three major airports in the D.C. area, was named after former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles who served under former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
There is a low chance of the bill passing the Democrat-controlled Senate. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat running for Virginia governor, already spoke against the effort, saying, “This idea is ridiculous, but sadly real.”
“Congress must act on pressing issues like reauthorizing the FAA and passing the national security supplemental. Yet this is what a Member of House Republican leadership focuses on — renaming Virginia’s Dulles airport after Trump,” she added.
This idea is ridiculous, but sadly real.
Congress must act on pressing issues like reauthorizing the FAA and passing the national security supplemental.
Yet this is what a Member of House Republican leadership focuses on — renaming Virginia’s Dulles airport after Trump. https://t.co/ys0x4RPXtG
— Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerForVA) April 2, 2024
“Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) wrote.
Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison. https://t.co/FrUNOVK7TW
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) April 2, 2024