A group of Republican representatives have introduced a bill that would rename the Washington Dulles International Airport to the Donald J. Trump International Airport.
On Friday, March 29, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), the GOP’s Chief Deputy Whip for the House of Representatives, sponsored the legislation. He is joined by cosponsors Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), Rep. Angy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) and Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX).
In an April 2 post shared to X, Reschenthaler described the former president and leading GOP candidate as “the best president of my lifetime.” He wrote that Trump embodied “freedom,” “prosperity” and “strength” while in the White House, inspiring him to introduce the bill to honor the politician by changing the name of Washington, D.C.’s primary international airport.
Freedom. Prosperity. Strength.
That's what America stood for under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump — the best president of my lifetime.
And that's why I'm introducing legislation to rename Dulles as the Donald J. Trump International Airport.https://t.co/h7dMVaERbQ
— Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) April 2, 2024
In remarks made to Fox News, which first reported on the proposed legislation, the Pennsylvania representative further stated that “Welcome to Trump International Airport” would serve as the perfect message to the “millions of domestic and international travelers” who come through the airport.
Reschenthaler has also noted the accomplishments of the Trump administration as reasons for wanting to honor him, including low rates of unemployment, more income for middle-class Americans, guiding the nation to become the top oil and gas producer in the world and championing security on the southern border.
Dulles airport, ranked 33 last year out of the 764 airports in the United States, sees about 25 million passengers each year and is among the top five largest American airports based on land area.
Despite the efforts of the GOP sponsors, the bill to change the airport’s name to honor Trump would struggle to gain traction. Republicans hold a slight majority of 218 to 213 in the House of Representatives and the Democrats are in control of the Senate.
Dulles airport opened in 1962, less than five years after its location was selected by President Dwight Eisenhower. In November of that year, the facility was dedicated to John Foster Dulles, who served as Secretary of State during the Eisenhower administration and the Cold War.
Dulles, who died in 1959, was honored in the naming of the airport by President John F. Kennedy at a ceremony attended by thousands, including Eisenhower and members of the late Secretary of State’s family. The original name of Dulles International Airport was updated in 1984 to Washington Dulles International Airport.
