Trump Says Schumer Suggested Naming Penn Station After Him — Schumer Denies It
President Trump reportedly told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer he would restore tens of billions in frozen Gateway infrastructure funds only if two major transportation hubs were renamed after him — a proposal that has ignited fierce political backlash and intensified the fight over a stalled critical infrastructure project.
According to sources cited by Reuters and ABC News, Trump offered to unfreeze about $16 billion in federal funding for the Gateway Hudson River rail tunnel project, which connects New York and New Jersey, on the condition that New York’s Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport be renamed for him.
Schumer reportedly rejected the idea outright, saying he lacked authority to change the names of the facilities.
The Gateway Project’s funding was frozen in October amid a federal shutdown, threatening to halt construction and put jobs at risk. In recent days, a federal judge issued an order requiring the Trump administration to release the money, at least temporarily, after legal action by New York and New Jersey officials.
Democrats have blasted the reported proposal as inappropriate. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called demanding naming rights for major infrastructure a “ridiculous” request that put personal legacy over jobs.
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Schumer’s office countered Trump’s later claim that the idea originated with the senator, calling that assertion an “absolute lie.”
The dispute has become emblematic of broader partisan tensions over federal control of big infrastructure spending and presidential influence over legacy branding. Republican reactions have been mixed, with some lawmakers expressing support for renaming efforts while others focus on the need to keep funding flowing.
Despite the legal order to release funds, work on the Gateway tunnel remains under scrutiny as parties prepare for additional court hearings and continued political negotiations. What happens next could determine whether one of the country’s most critical rail projects resumes on schedule.
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