Trump Seeks to Rename Major Landmarks After Himself

The president's push to rebrand public spaces raises concerns about vanity and legacy.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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President Trump has reportedly proposed renaming major landmarks like Penn Station in New York and Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. after himself, in exchange for releasing funding for infrastructure projects. Critics argue this is an attempt by the president to build a legacy and appropriate the accomplishments of others, rather than creating his own lasting achievements.

Why it matters

The president's push to rebrand public spaces with his name is seen by many as an exercise in vanity and self-aggrandizement, rather than a genuine effort to create a lasting legacy. It raises concerns about the politicization of public institutions and the potential for future administrations to engage in similar rebranding efforts.

The details

According to reports, Trump administration officials told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that the president would unfreeze billions in funding for a delayed rail tunnel under the Hudson River if Schumer would push to rename Penn Station and Dulles International Airport after Trump. Schumer reportedly refused the offer. The president's renaming crusade appears aimed at appropriating the legacies of others, rather than building his own. Trump has previously rebranded the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Institute of Peace, even as he sought to gut the institute.

  • In recent discussions, Trump administration officials made the proposal to Schumer.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who has sought to rebrand major public landmarks and institutions with his name.

Chuck Schumer

The Democratic Senate Minority Leader, who reportedly refused the Trump administration's proposal to rename Penn Station and Dulles International Airport.

Hakeem Jeffries

The Democratic House Minority Leader, who has derided Trump's renaming efforts as "presidential graffiti".

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What they’re saying

“Never mind that the president shouldn't hold hostage billions in congressionally appropriated funding.”

— Michelle Cottle (The New York Times)

“Trumpism will not last forever. Elements might endure, but the MAGA movement is at heart a cult of personality unlikely to outlast its singular leader for very long in its existing form.”

— Michelle Cottle (The New York Times)

“Removing presidential graffiti promises to be one of the easier repair jobs. Government agencies, policy programs, democratic norms, the rule of law — Mr. Trump is smearing his grubby fingerprints across so much more than a few edifices.”

— Michelle Cottle (The New York Times)

What’s next

The fate of the proposed renaming efforts remains unclear, as Congress and the public continue to debate the president's motivations and the appropriate response.

The takeaway

President Trump's push to rebrand major landmarks with his name is seen by many as an exercise in vanity and self-aggrandizement, rather than a genuine effort to build a lasting legacy. While removing his 'presidential graffiti' may be one of the easier tasks in undoing the damage of the Trump era, it is a symbolic battle in a much larger fight to restore democratic norms and institutions.