ABC's Jon Karl Confronts Rep. Mike Lawler on Trump Infrastructure Demands

The congressman defended Trump's reported offer to unfreeze $16 billion in funds if landmarks were renamed in his honor.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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ABC's Jonathan Karl confronted Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) about President Donald Trump offering to unfreeze $16 billion in infrastructure funds if major landmarks like New York's Penn Station and Washington's Dulles Airport were renamed in his honor. Lawler argued there was precedent for such demands, but Karl pushed back, saying Trump was "holding the money hostage" for personal gain.

Why it matters

This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democrats over infrastructure funding, as well as concerns about the former president's willingness to leverage government resources for personal branding purposes.

The details

Both Punchbowl News and Karl reported that Trump told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) he would be willing to unfreeze billions in funds for a major infrastructure project in New York if Schumer agreed to rename two major transportation landmarks after him. Lawler defended the proposal, citing a precedent of landmarks being renamed, but Karl pushed back, saying Trump was "holding the money hostage" for his own benefit.

  • On Friday, a judge ordered the infrastructure funds to be unfrozen for the project, which includes building a new commuter rail tunnel between Manhattan and New Jersey.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who reportedly offered to unfreeze $16 billion in infrastructure funds if major landmarks were renamed in his honor.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader who was reportedly told by Trump that he would unfreeze the infrastructure funds if Schumer agreed to rename New York's Penn Station and Washington's Dulles Airport after him.

Mike Lawler

A Republican Congressman from New York who defended Trump's reported demands, arguing there was precedent for renaming critical infrastructure projects.

Jonathan Karl

The ABC News correspondent who confronted Lawler about Trump's reported offer, pushing back on the idea that it was acceptable to "hold the money hostage" for personal gain.

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What they’re saying

“How is that OK?!”

— Jonathan Karl, ABC News Correspondent (ABC News)

“Ultimately, this is a negotiation between the two of them that I think can get done. I recall back when I was in New York politics, Andrew Cuomo negotiated the renaming of the of the Triborough Bridge after his former father-in-law, RFK. This is not new, renaming critical infrastructure projects. It's not a new concept.”

— Mike Lawler, U.S. Representative (ABC News)

“He's holding the money hostage for having these things named after him. I mean, this is not like part of a 'let's honor somebody.' He wants it named after himself and he's saying he'll unfreeze the money if they'll do it!”

— Jonathan Karl, ABC News Correspondent (ABC News)

“At the end of the day, to me, I really could care less what the name of a building is, a critical infrastructure project is. I care that it gets done.”

— Mike Lawler, U.S. Representative (ABC News)

What’s next

A judge has already ordered the infrastructure funds to be unfrozen, so the next steps will involve the negotiations between Trump and Schumer over the renaming of the landmarks.

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democrats over infrastructure funding, as well as concerns about the former president's willingness to leverage government resources for personal branding purposes. It raises questions about the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars and the boundaries of political horse-trading.