Three Democratic congressmen introduced legislation to rename a federal prison in Miami after former President Donald Trump, as a response to a Republican-led effort to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump. The bill, proposed by Representatives Gerry Connolly, Jared Moskowitz, and John Garamendi, suggests renaming the Miami Federal Correctional Institution to the “Donald J. Trump Federal Correctional Institution.”
Connolly emphasized that renaming a federal prison would be a more fitting tribute to Trump given his legal challenges, including multiple federal criminal charges in Florida and state charges in New York. Trump faces accusations ranging from mishandling government information to falsifying business records and attempting to overturn election results. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges and is awaiting trial dates.
Moskowitz expressed a desire to help Trump achieve a dream of having his name on a federal building, noting Trump’s penchant for branding his properties with gold letters. Meanwhile, a bill introduced by Republican Representative Guy Reschenthaler to rename Dulles Airport after Trump is gaining momentum among GOP supporters.
The renaming efforts reflect the political polarization surrounding Trump’s legacy, with Democrats highlighting his legal troubles while Republicans celebrate his presidency. Reschenthaler and other Republican sponsors of the Dulles renaming bill praised Trump’s leadership, calling him the best president of their lifetime and emphasizing values like freedom, prosperity, and strength associated with his tenure.
Washington Dulles International Airport, named after former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, has been a prominent symbol of American air travel since its opening in 1962. The proposed renaming of the airport underscores the ongoing debate over how Trump should be remembered in the public sphere, with supporters seeking to immortalize his presidency through such gestures.