Republican lawmakers launch effort to rename Dulles International Airport after Trump
WASHINGTON - A group of House Republicans has launched a long-shot effort to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after former President Donald Trump stirring up controversy and conversation.
The two-page bill, H.R. 7845, ‘‘Donald J. Trump International Airport’," was introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa, on Friday.
So far, it has been co-sponsored by six other GOP lawmakers — Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, Rep. Andrew Ogles and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann both of Tennessee, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, Rep. Barry Moore of Alabama and Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas.
The bill was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for further consideration.
The airport is currently named after John Foster Dulles, who served as Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953-1959. It was dedicated in 1962.
Dulles is the largest airport in the Washington metro area and is one of the nation's busiest airports, seeing more than 23 million passengers each year.
"In my lifetime, our nation has never been greater than under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump," said Reschenthaler said in a statement. "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 argued that the airport should be named after Trump due to his record on the economy, American energy independence, the southern border and national security, among other things.
"Freedom. Prosperity. Strength. That's what America stood for under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump — the best president of my lifetime," Reschenthaler added on X.
The legislation seems unlikely to make it through Congress, particularly the Democratic-controlled Senate. It may not even make headway in the Republican-controlled House.
It comes as Republicans are ramping up efforts to highlight the former president’s successes in office, drawing attention away from his upcoming New York civil fraud case, his classified documents case, the Georgia election interference case, and his appeal of the Jan. 6 criminal charges.
"Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison," Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia said in a statement Tuesday.
He added that Trump lost the primary to Nikki Haley just a few weeks ago in Fairfax County, which borders Dulles.
"Imagine wasting our time with something like this that you know isn't going to go anywhere and is right in the face of more than half the country and certainly three-quarters of the population here," Connolly said. "When we could be and should be dealing with aid to Ukraine, we could be and should be dealing with the price of prescription drugs, shoring up social security, dealing with the immigration and border issues."
He's not the only Democratic lawmaker weighing in on the idea.
"This idea is ridiculous, but sadly real," Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia wrote on X. "This is what a Member of House Republican leadership focuses on — renaming Virginia’s Dulles airport after Trump."
As for airport goers FOX spoke with, there were two sides, of course.
"Yes Donald Trump!!!" said Theresa Cain. "I'm a Trumpster from 1984. He deserves it, he earns it, it's a shame what our country is going through right now, it's despicable."
"So you'd be happy to be here at Trump International?" FOX 5's Homa Bash asked Cain.
"Happy, blissful, will put a Donald Trump wrap on my car to be sitting here honoring him. It's brilliant," she said.
"I prefer it the way it is, I think Dulles is a better name for the airport than naming it after the former president," Andy Herrick said. "I'm not a big fan of Donald Trump and I don't think it's appropriate to name stuff after him after all the controversy."
No word yet from the Trump campaign on this legislation.