In a counter to an effort by some House Republicans to rename the Washington Dulles Airport after former President Donald Trump, a group of Democrats have introduced a bill that will put Trump’s name in a federal prison instead.
In a legislation introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) on Friday, the lawmakers sought to change the name of the Miami Federal Correctional Institution to “Donald J. Trump Federal Correctional Institution.”
“When our Republican colleagues introduced their bill to rename Dulles after Donald Trump, I said the more fitting option would be to rename a federal prison,’ Connolly wrote in a press release.
“I see no reason to wait. Donald Trump faces nearly 100 felony charges. He has been found liable of sexual abuse and, subsequently, for defaming the victim of that abuse. He has been fined hundreds of millions of dollars in a civil fraud case. It is only right that the closest federal prison to Mar-a-Lago should bear his name. I hope our Republican friends will join us in bestowing upon Donald J. Trump the only honor he truly deserves,” he added.
In a post on X in which the press release is attached, Connolly wrote, “Some Republicans want to rename Dulles International Airport after Donald Trump.@RepMoskowitz, @RepGaramendi, and I think the “Donald J. Trump Federal Correctional Institution” has a better ring to it.”
Some Republicans want to rename Dulles International Airport after Donald Trump.@RepMoskowitz, @RepGaramendi, and I think the "Donald J. Trump Federal Correctional Institution" has a better ring to it. https://t.co/B0MQi1HqZA
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) April 5, 2024
The proposal to rename the closest federal prison to Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in his name comes about a week after Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), the chief deputy whip of the House GOP, and some lawmakers introduced an effort to rename Virginia’s Washington Dulles International Airport in honor of Trump.
“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,” Reschenthaler said to Fox News.
The bill, introduced on Friday, is co-sponsored by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) and Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL).
Explaining the essence of the legislation, Moore said, 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.”
Gosar also spoke to Fox News about the legislation, saying, “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.”
