A group of House Republicans is lobbying to rename an airport that serves Washington D.C. after Donald Trump.
A bill led by Guy Reschenthaler, chief deputy whip for the House Republicans, calls for Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia to be renamed The Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Newsweek has contacted a representative for Trump by email to comment on this story.
The Context
Washington Dulles was ranked 33rd out of 764 U.S. airports in terms of passenger traffic in 2023 by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
It is not uncommon to name airports after famous figures including former presidents. In 1998, Ronald Reagan saw an airport named after him; Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
Other airports linked to presidents include John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas and Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What We Know
The bill was introduced on Friday and has six cosponsors, all Republicans. They are Michael Waltz, Andy Ogles, Chuck Fleischmann, Paul Gosar, Barry Moore and Troy Nehls.
It says that if passed: "The Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 'Donald J. Trump International Airport.'"
"Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the airport referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Donald J. Trump International Airport," it continued.
However, it is unlikely the Democrat-controlled Senate would pass the bill if it is passed by the House of Representatives.
Views
"In my lifetime, our nation has never been greater than under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump," Reschenthaler told Fox News Digital. "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."
"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," Moore told the outlet.
Denver Riggleman, a former GOP congressman, said that no "sane" Virginia representative would support the bill.
This is an actual bill:
— Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) April 2, 2024
To designate the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia as the Donald J. Trump Int’l Airport.
Filed 3/29. Not April Fools.
No sane VA rep would support it. If you want to “sycophant” stick to your own damn airportshttps://t.co/5Oc9l5WUqS
What's Next
It remains to be seen whether the bill will make much progress. The House is currently in recess for the Easter break and returns on April 9.
Update 4/2/24, 11:00 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Kate Plummer is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. politics and national affairs, and ... Read more
