Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) didn’t mince words when he declared President Trump’s recent claim about renaming Penn Station an “absolute lie.” President Trump had claimed earlier on Friday that Schumer himself suggested changing the name of Penn Station to “Trump Station.” The president made this comment while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
According to The Hill, the top Senate Democrat took to X on Friday to directly address the president’s assertion. Schumer wrote, “Absolute lie. He knows it. Everyone knows it.” This is a pretty strong condemnation, and it really highlights the tension between the two leaders right now.
This entire dramatic exchange stems from a proposal President Trump reportedly made last month. He offered to release the $16 billion in crucial funding needed for the Gateway tunnel project, which links New York and New Jersey, if Schumer agreed to rename Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport after himself.
An ego boost for funding for essential infrastructure
Schumer had previously rejected this entire proposal, telling the president that initiating such a request was beyond his authority. Schumer emphasized that the president has the power to restart the Gateway tunnel project instantly, stating, “Only one man can restart the project, and he can restart it with the snap of his fingers.” Of course, this isn’t the first time Trump has played fast and loose with the facts.
Senator Kristen Gillibrand from New York also slammed the renaming idea as “ridiculous,” stating that “naming rights aren’t tradable as part of any negotiations, and neither is the dignity of New Yorkers.” She said President Trump “continues to put his own narcissism over the good-paying union jobs this project provides and the extraordinary economic impact the Gateway tunnel will bring.”
If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ll know this isn’t the first time President Trump has sought to attach his name to major public sites since his second administration began. This effort seems to be part of a larger pattern of Trump wanting to name things after himself.
Rep. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) introduced a bill to rename Dulles Airport in 2025, saying, “It is only right that the two airports servicing our nation’s capital are duly honored and respected by two of the best presidents to have the honor of serving our great nation.” He was referencing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Additionally, Florida state senators have already advanced legislation to rename Palm Beach International Airport to “Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
Beyond airports, President Trump’s name has added to the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Kennedy Center, a move that sparked immediate backlash from the leadership at USIP and from family members of former President Kennedy. The president even pushed for the Washington Commanders’ new football stadium in D.C. to be named after him.
Published: Feb 9, 2026 09:10 am