Virginia Democrats are criticizing a recently proposed legislation by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) that aims to rename the Washington Dulles International Airport in honor of former President Donald Trump.
A bill was introduced on Friday with the aim of designating the Virginia airport, located about 26 miles outside of Washington, D.C., as the “Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
According to Reschenthaler, President Donald J. Trump’s leadership has made our nation stronger than ever before. He believes that renaming the airport to Trump International Airport would serve as a powerful symbol of freedom, prosperity, and strength for both domestic and international travelers.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has received the legislation for review. The bill has garnered support from a group of Republican representatives, including Michael Chuck Fleischmann (Tenn.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Troy Nehls (Texas), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Barry Moore (Ala.), and Mike Waltz (Fla.).
Some Democrats in the state, including Representative Gerry Connolly, are already scrutinizing the move, highlighting the numerous criminal charges that the former president is currently facing.
Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison. https://t.co/FrUNOVK7TW
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) April 2, 2024
Connolly expressed his opinion on the matter, suggesting that if Republicans were to name something after him, it should be a federal prison.
Rep. Don Breyer (D-Va.) vividly remembers the utter chaos that unfolded after President Trump made the decision in 2017 to sign an executive order prohibiting travelers from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
During that time, Breyer made it a point to visit the facility in order to provide reassurance to the families who were affected. He has since connected these distressing memories with Dulles Airport.
“I can vividly recall how Republicans, who were responsible for drafting this bill, evaded the truth and provided vague responses when confronted with the immense suffering caused by Trump’s Muslim ban,” Breyer expressed. “Deep down, they understand that renaming Dulles after Trump is an unlikely scenario. However, their primary objective is to appease their beloved leader.”
President Joe Biden reversed the Muslim ban in 2021.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who is currently campaigning for governor in Virginia, strongly criticized the legislation, describing it as both “ridiculous” and unfortunately true. She emphasized that the lower chamber should be focusing on more pressing matters.
On Tuesday, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) shared his thoughts on the bill, humorously stating, “April fools was yesterday.”
Given the tight majority the GOP holds in the House and the opposition it will face in the Democratic-controlled Senate, it is unlikely that the bill will pass.
The Dulles Airport, situated in Virginia’s Fairfax County, first opened its doors in 1962. It was named after John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State who played a crucial role in President Dwight Eisenhower’s administration from 1953 to 1959.
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