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House Republicans have introduced legislation to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after former president Donald Trump.
The bill to name the Virginia airport after the polarizing 2024 presidential candidate faces tough odds. The House has a slim GOP majority and is consumed with pressing matters, including a national security funding package that would support Ukraine, Israel and other allies. Even if the measure did pass the House, it would have to make it through the Democratic-controlled Senate and get the signature of President Biden.
The bill was filed Friday by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), with six Republican co-sponsors: Reps. Andrew Ogles and Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Michael Waltz of Florida, Paul A. Gosar of Arizona, Barry Moore of Alabama and Troy E. Nehls of Texas.
The measure would change the name of the airport, about 25 miles west of D.C., to Donald J. Trump International Airport. Any reference to the airport on maps, documents, papers or other government records to the airport "shall be considered to be a reference to the Donald J. Trump International Airport," according to the two-page bill text.
The bill now sits
with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. The airport, which hosts over 23 million travelers annually, opened in 1962 and was named Dulles International Airport, after John Foster Dulles, the former secretary of state under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. (The airport was renamed Washington Dulles International Airport in 1984.)
"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 in a statement.
Democrats blasted the bill Tuesday. "The idea is ridiculous," Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who is running for governor, wrote on X. Congress, she continued, should focus on reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration and passing national security funding. "Yet this is what a Member of House Republican leadership focuses on - renaming Virginia’s Dulles airport after Trump."
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said on X and in a statement, "Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison."
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which manages Dulles, declined to comment.