Schumer Denies Trump's Claim About Renaming Penn Station

Senate Minority Leader rejects Trump's assertion that he suggested renaming the station after the former president.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has strongly denied President Trump's claim that Schumer suggested renaming New York's Penn Station after Trump. Schumer called Trump's assertion an 'absolute lie' and said the former president knows it is not true. Schumer had previously rejected Trump's proposal to rename Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport in exchange for funding the Gateway tunnel project.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing political tensions between Democratic leaders like Schumer and the former Republican president. It also raises questions about Trump's willingness to make unsubstantiated claims and the challenges of negotiating major infrastructure projects in a polarized political environment.

The details

Trump claimed during a press conference on Air Force One that Schumer 'suggested that to me about changing the name of Penn Station to Trump Station.' However, Schumer firmly denied this, saying it was an 'absolute lie' and that 'everyone knows it.' Schumer had previously rejected Trump's proposal last month to rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport in exchange for $16 billion in funding for the Gateway tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey. Schumer told Trump that renaming the stations was beyond the president's authority.

  • On February 7, 2026, Schumer denied Trump's claim.
  • In January 2026, Trump proposed renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport in exchange for Gateway tunnel funding.

The players

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader from New York who denied Trump's claim about renaming Penn Station.

Donald Trump

The former president who claimed Schumer suggested renaming Penn Station after him, an assertion Schumer called an 'absolute lie.'

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What they’re saying

“Absolute lie. He knows it. Everyone knows it.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (X)

“Only one man can restart the project and he can restart it with the snap of his fingers.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (X)

What’s next

The dispute between Schumer and Trump over the renaming proposal is likely to continue, as the two leaders have clashed on various issues. The fate of the Gateway tunnel project, which is crucial for the Northeast corridor, remains uncertain and will depend on the ability of political leaders to reach a compromise.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing partisan divide in Washington and the challenges of negotiating major infrastructure projects when political leaders are unwilling to find common ground. It also raises concerns about the credibility of claims made by former President Trump, who has a history of making unsubstantiated statements.