White House Offer: Rename Penn Station as Trump Station to Unfreeze Gateway Tunnel Funding
The White House is reportedly making a surprising demand: rename Penn Station to "Trump Station" in exchange for unfreezing federal funding for the stalled Gateway tunnel project. According to sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, President Donald Trump's team has proposed this condition to Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer and his team are under pressure to secure the $16 billion mega-project, which involves constructing new train tunnels beneath the Hudson River. The source claims that Schumer is willing to make a deal, stating, "There was no trade. The president stopped the funding, and he can restart it with a snap of his fingers."
However, commuters at Penn Station are unfazed by the suggestion. Many see it as an attempt at blackmail or a thinly veiled attempt to curry favor with the President. As one commuter said, "It seems like blackmail to me... If you want to appeal to a narcissist, sure, go ahead... It's a stupid thing to have to do to get funding that's already been appropriated by Congress."
The Trump administration is also promoting through-running as a solution for Penn Station's capacity issues. However, experts suggest that this would require significant renovations to the station itself.
The Gateway tunnel project and the Penn Station overhaul are closely linked, with new Hudson River tunnels serving the station. However, even with the new tunnels, Penn Station's capacity will not increase unless significant changes are made.
The proposal has raised eyebrows among politicians and commuters alike. Governor Kathy Hochul had previously expressed openness to renaming the station after Trump if he were to invest $7 billion in the project. However, others view it as an attempt by Trump to build a legacy-defining train station in his hometown.
As one actor from New Jersey said, "What do you expect from this guy? It's like if we don't cater to what he wants, you get the boot." The fate of the Gateway tunnel project and Penn Station remains uncertain, with oral arguments set for Friday.
The White House is reportedly making a surprising demand: rename Penn Station to "Trump Station" in exchange for unfreezing federal funding for the stalled Gateway tunnel project. According to sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, President Donald Trump's team has proposed this condition to Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer and his team are under pressure to secure the $16 billion mega-project, which involves constructing new train tunnels beneath the Hudson River. The source claims that Schumer is willing to make a deal, stating, "There was no trade. The president stopped the funding, and he can restart it with a snap of his fingers."
However, commuters at Penn Station are unfazed by the suggestion. Many see it as an attempt at blackmail or a thinly veiled attempt to curry favor with the President. As one commuter said, "It seems like blackmail to me... If you want to appeal to a narcissist, sure, go ahead... It's a stupid thing to have to do to get funding that's already been appropriated by Congress."
The Trump administration is also promoting through-running as a solution for Penn Station's capacity issues. However, experts suggest that this would require significant renovations to the station itself.
The Gateway tunnel project and the Penn Station overhaul are closely linked, with new Hudson River tunnels serving the station. However, even with the new tunnels, Penn Station's capacity will not increase unless significant changes are made.
The proposal has raised eyebrows among politicians and commuters alike. Governor Kathy Hochul had previously expressed openness to renaming the station after Trump if he were to invest $7 billion in the project. However, others view it as an attempt by Trump to build a legacy-defining train station in his hometown.
As one actor from New Jersey said, "What do you expect from this guy? It's like if we don't cater to what he wants, you get the boot." The fate of the Gateway tunnel project and Penn Station remains uncertain, with oral arguments set for Friday.
I'm literally shook by this one 
. Like, who thought renaming a major transportation hub after a former president was a good idea? 
It's not like it's going to magically solve the capacity issues or make the station more efficient... unless Trump has a team of magic workers hidden in the basement 
.
It feels like blackmail, plain and simple. If you want funding for a massive infrastructure project, just name-drop your ego and see what happens 
. I mean, come on, Schumer! You're not going to let the President strong-arm you into doing something that's basically extortion... are you? 
. But one thing's for sure: if Trump gets his way, Penn Station is gonna be a real estate agent's dream 
.
so trump wants them to rename it to "trump station" if they wanna unfreeze that gazillion dollar gateway tunnel funding. like, seriously? and some ppl are actually thinkin this is a good idea 
meanwhile, commuters r all about the drama & think its just a sneaky way for him 2 get what he wants. i feel u, tho, if ur gonna try 2 strongarm them, might as well own it 
. I mean, it's not like the President is asking for a free lunch or anything (although, let's be real, $7 billion would definitely cover some meals 
). But seriously, if the President wants to contribute to the Gateway tunnel project, shouldn't we at least consider his request? It's not like Schumer and the Senate are going to get away with nothing – they're still stuck dealing with Congress, after all 
. And let's be real, Trump is already getting a pretty sweet deal on the whole "renaming a train station" front 
. Can't we just chill and see what happens?
. And let's be real, who wants to ride through "Trump Station" all day? 
It's gonna be a hot mess, trust me 
. Commuters at Penn Station should be able to decide what they want their station to be named, not some backroom deal with the President. And another thing, if we're going to fix Penn Station and Gateway tunnel, shouldn't we focus on making it better for everyone who uses these facilities, not just Trump's ego? 
️ like that's not gonna happen though... the fact that ppl are even considering it is wild 
like, okay we get it, u wanna leave ur mark on the city... but can't u just do somethin' constructive for once 
. It feels like Trump is using his team as leverage, and it's just not cool 
. Can't we just focus on getting some real progress done on the tunnel project and making Penn Station a better place for everyone? 
And what's next? Renaming the Statue of Liberty "Trump Lady" or something 
...
Newsflash: if you want to make a lasting legacy, invest in the country, not just your own ego 
.