On Friday, a cadre of MAGA minions in the House of Representatives filed a bill to bestow honor upon their dear leader, former Republican President Donald Trump.
They proposed renaming Washington D.C.'s primary airport—Washington Dulles International located 26 miles from central D.C. near Sterling, Virginia—the Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia is closer to D.C., but national security concerns raised after 9/11 severely limit the flight path, size of aircraft and point of origin for all planes landing at Reagan Airport.
So most people traveling to the nation's capital—and all international flights—use either Dulles or the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland.
Pennsylvania GOP Representative Guy Reschenthaler—the individual listed on the 2-page bill's cover page as sponsor of H.R. 7845—wrote in a press release:
"In my lifetime, our nation has never been greater than under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump."
"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."
The bill is cosponsored by MAGA Republicans Mike Waltz of Florida, Andy Ogles and Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Troy Nehls of Texas and Barry Moore of Alabama.
But Virginia Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly proposed a more appropriate way to acknowledge the 45th POTUS. Connolly's congressional district includes part of Dulles.
On X and on his official website, Connolly wrote:
"Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges."
"If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison."
Virginia Democratic Representative Jennifer Wexton who also represents part of Dulles posted:
"This is just another in a long list of instances where extreme House Republicans have shown how unserious & delusional they are."
"Let’s get to work on the real issues the American people sent us here for—not renaming an airport after someone who sought to undermine our democracy."
Axios reported Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin commented:
"If they name it after Trump, there could be continued round-trip service to Moscow."
Virginia Democratic Representative Don Beyer recalled how Trump's "Muslim ban" impacted Dulles.
Beyer added:
"I remember Republicans like those who wrote this bill hiding and giving mealy mouthed responses when asked about the suffering Trump’s Muslim ban caused. They know Dulles will never be renamed after Trump."
"Again, that’s not the point, the point is to suck up to their Dear Leader."
Even Republicans criticized the idea of a Trump airport.
Retired GOP Virginia Congressman Denver Riggleman posted:
"This is an actual bill:"
"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 [Virginia Representative] would support it. If you want to 'sycophant' stick to your own damn airports."
Others concurred with Connolly's suggestion or offered ones of their own.
Others just want the Trump name to fade away.
In 2020, it was reported Trump asked his advisors how to get an airport named after him.
Still in office at the time, Trump asked about the "paperwork" required to rename a transport hub according to the Daily Beast report.
Washington Dulles International Airport was named after John Foster Dulles—Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until his death in 1959—when the airport opened in 1962. Among the 764 busiest airports in the United States, Dulles is currently ranked 33rd.
The much smaller Washington National Airport opened in 1941 and would be renamed after the 40th President in 1998.
Primarily a "short-haul" airport, Reagan National offers nonstop service to and from destinations no more than 1,250 miles from the nation's capital.
H.R. 7845 cosponsor Moore referred to Reagan National in his own press release, stating:
"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."
Cosponsor and MAGA ride-or-die Gosar told Axios:
"I can see no more fitting recognition than naming both airports in our nation's capital after America's two best Presidents: DCA after President Reagan and Dulles after President Trump."
Both Airports are managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
Other major airports named after Presidents are John F. Kennedy International in Queens, New York, George (H. W.) Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Texas and Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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