Three House Democrats introduced legislation on Friday to rename a Miami prison after former President Donald Trump, in what appears to be a retaliatory move against Republicans who proposed renaming Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump earlier in the week.
The bill, introduced by Reps. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, and John Garamendi of California seek to rename the Miami Federal Correctional Institution in Florida the “Donald J. Trump Federal Correctional Institution.”
Trump (Credits: Business Standard)
This move comes after Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, a Republican from Pennsylvania, sponsored a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump, citing what he described as Trump’s exceptional leadership.
However, Democrats quickly responded, with Rep. John Garamendi highlighting Trump’s unique position as the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal indictments. Garamendi criticized Republicans for focusing on symbolic gestures rather than addressing the country’s real issues.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia also chimed in, dismissing the Republican proposal to rename the airport as a distraction from crucial legislative work. She emphasized the need to focus on substantive issues rather than engaging in symbolic gestures.
Trump (Credits: The Hill)
Rep. Gerry Connolly doubled down on his previous suggestion that a federal prison would be a more appropriate entity to bear Trump’s name, given his legal troubles. Connolly highlighted Trump’s numerous felony charges and legal liabilities as reasons for renaming the Miami prison after him.
Trump is currently facing multiple indictments, including charges related to business fraud, unlawful retention of classified documents, and election interference.
The tit-for-tat between Democrats and Republicans underscores the ongoing political polarization in Congress, with symbolic gestures often taking precedence over substantive policymaking.
