After losing re-election in 2020, Donald Trump reportedly asked about having an airport named for him. However he was concerned that whatever airport is chosen, it needs to be nice enough.
H.R. 691 was just introduced by Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC) on Thursday to rename Washington Dulles airport “Donald J. Trump International Airport.” There are (4) co-sponsors so far: Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), and Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA), and the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
How IAD Airport Came To Be Named Dulles
Dulles airport was originally supposed to be in Burke, Virginia (chosen over Fairfax) and the federal government began buying land. However, local residents objected. So the government condemned homes and appropriated land in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Willard instead.
During development, the airport was known colloquially as “Chantilly Airport.” President Kennedy’s FAA administrator announced it would be simply, “Washington International Airport” trying to head off the naming after former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
However Washington Dulles International Airport opened November 17, 1962 as Dulles International Airport, dedicated by President John F. Kennedy with former President Dwight D. Eisenhower in attendance in attendance. Earlier legislation renamed Dulles International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport, because it was being confused with Dallas.
John Foster Dulles was Eisenhower’s Secretary of State, known for brinksmanship; “agonizing reappraisal” of the United States’ commitment to European defense if European countries did not contribute more significantly to their own defense through NATO; “massive retaliation” where any act of aggression by the Soviet Union or its allies would be met with overwhelming force, including the use of nuclear weapons; and “unleashing” Chiang Kai-shek to resume military operations against the Communist People’s Republic of China to retake the mainland.
His younger brother Allan Welsh Dulles was CIA Director from 1953 through 1961, and oversaw the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953 and Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz in 1954. He was also responsible for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.
Trump’s Name Is Already Big In Aviation
Donald Trump used to have navigational waypoints named for him before the FAA took those away. And he used to have an airline that later became the American Airlines Shuttle in the Northeast.
Naming Airports For Politicians Is Done Often
Grover Norquist raised a ton of money for the ‘Reagan Legacy Project’ to have something named for Ronald Reagan in every state. That’s a key reason why Washington National airport was officially renamed Reagan National Airport. Trump has reportedly hoped for an organized effort like that around renamings for him.
Airports are named for politicos all the time. San Jose’s airport is named for Norm Mineta, the Transportation Secretary who first oversaw the TSA (before there was a Department of Homeland Security). Little Rock airport is now the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. Houston Intercontinental is named for Bush 41. New York’s Idlewild was renamed in honor of JFK. There’s Gerald Ford airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. And Wichita’s airport is named for Dwight Eisenhower.
This Will Need Democrat Votes
Republicans have the barest majority in both houses of Congress so they may not be able to push this through. Perhaps they could peel away from Democrats to vote in favor by strategically selecting an airport like Sioux City (IATA code: SUX) or Fresno (IATA code: FAT)? Then again, naming Dulles may be far enough from the city and broadly unpleasant enough – at least in the 1980s-era “temporary” United concourses – that Trump would decline the honor if it were offered.
Please leave IAD alone. It’s already embarrassing enough that DCA has Reagan’s name attached to it. Naming IAD after this guy could carry negative implications at a crucial time when it’s trying to grow. United is already building up that new terminal for next year, and I’d like to see IAD get it’s fifth runway.
“. He was also responsible for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.”
Kennedy was responsible. Commander-in-Chief.
Given the back-story on Secretary of State Dulles, it actually seems appropriate (both threatened our allies to spend more on NATO). So, I say, let Him have a win, if this really what He wants. For actually flying to DC, let’s be honest, DCA is so much better anyway. I’d have thought He would have preferred renaming PBI or one of the NYC area airports. “It’s good to be king.”
The boot-licking sycophantic fawning over him is incredible. These people have no spine and no self-respect.
Can’t a NC rep find an airport in NC to rename? Why is he bothering us Virginia residents with a Russian-styled renaming of existing facilities? Then again, Trump is awful cozy with Putin, so perhaps that communist approach makes sense in pursuit of his vanity project.
I have no doubt that Trump will deserve the honor by the time he is done but it seems a little early to do it now.
Of course, Obama won the Nobel peace prize before he ever lifted a finger. Nonetheless, I’d rather wait until he puts a Bunch more wins up on the scoreboard.
I have yet to see anyone with the testicular fortitude to volunteer themselves as the one stop gap/face of this current ongoing military operation to block a tyrannical world government from executing their sick and depraved goals of eradicating this iteration of humanity (yes, I said THIS iteration – we are not the first of humanity to exist in the course of human civilization – a very deep hole of study for anyone who is interested). As far as I’m concerned, once this is all behind us, I’ll favor chistling Trump into Mt Rushmore.
Someone is going to make a mountain of money on the gold-paint contract.
I pray this doesn’t happen. Of course they renamed National Airport, after Reagan, a man who fired 50,000 ÀTCs.
@Jeffrey Dhedouville
It’ll all make more sense when He abolishes ATC, FAA, and TSA. Let the free market decide when and where aircraft ‘fly’! It shall be known as the ‘golden age’ for aviation! Praise be to our immortal, fearless, perfect leader! To Greenland! And Mars!
For the rest of us, there’s always bus service. Especially after Americans get PNG’d from every civilized country on Earth.
Well whichever airport takes the tRump name will definitely on my no fly list.
@ Gary — As long as the naming is done posthumously and by 2026, I’m sure Democratic support would be strong.
Ridiculous, but then arguably nothing national should be named for any living person. And thanks about mentioning Allen Dulles. The murder of Lumumba and the subsequent descent of the Congo into a kleptocracy and chaos can be laid at his door too.
I’m sure DeSantis would name West Palm or Miami after Trump.
Naming Dulles or renaming Dulles after Trumps is about owning the libs. Washington types would go crazy that both airports are named after Republican president.
And Youngkin, the governor in Virginia, is term-limited — a one-term wonder — and likely unable to run for anything else down the road. He’s warmed up to Trump. So, I’m sure he’s game.
If, sorry, when, they proceed with this, will they change the three-letter IATA code from IAD to DJT?
It’s a shame Busan, South Korea, already has PUS as that would have been even more appropriate. ‘When you’re a star, they let you do it.’
Will renaming Fort Knox, KY to “Fort Trump” be next?
IAD = International Airport of Dumbass
As a former IAD-based UA Pilot I’d puke if every time I was on tower or ground I had to hear that name
“This will need DemocratIC votes”.
@Catman5000
Printer Ink is for refilling cartridges, not for sniffing.
There should be a law banning the naming of airports after presidents and former presidents. It is a travesty that there is a:
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Reagan National Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Some day, they may dishonor war hero Lt. Butch O’Hare and name ORD after Obama.
Keep Dulles. Rename it Washington National. Rename it Adams Field instead of the Clintons.
Airport naming should be like postage stamps. You have to die first.
Lol I would love it.
In the first week trump has done so much good.
From ending the menace of me who pretended to be women, anti white dei racism, deporting illegal invaders ect ect. The bonus of course is all the fifth column types crying and raging about what he’s done. I hope he finds a way to stay on past 2029.
Change IAD to TDS just for shitts and giggles.
We should rename it Liz Cheney International Airport just to really get under his skin!
He would go so far into orbit he might even catch up with Musk’s roadster.
Picard
I voted for Trump but can we please stop naming buildings and stuff like this after politicians. If it has to carry someone’s name, we can do better.
@Dave W, totalitarian states typically do put their still-living leaders on their postage stamps. Sieg heil, baby.
@AndyS
Meh. Kinda weak. Why not go with a ‘thousand years’ realm? Then again, those usually don’t last more than 12 anyway (oh, how ironic). Please continue to prematurely celebrate.
So they’re going to rename it SHITHEAD?
I flew IAD once. Will try to avoid it in future; Trump’s name on it would be appropriate.
Dulles was a horrible person and was behind a lot of shady stuff. He makes Trump look like a choir boy. Dulles doesn’t deserve to have a trash truck named after him. Personally I think naming airports after politicians is weird. And if Trump wants an airport names after him IAD ain’t it. Maybe LGA as he championed the total renovation of LGA.
Keep Dulles Great!
@Jon F
“Printer Ink is for refilling cartridges, not for sniffing”
Intoxication has never appealed to me. In other news to you, the Department of Defense did revise and publish its Law of War Manual, 2015-16 where you can go and invest your time becoming informed. It’s available as a free PDF download. While you’re doing that, you just as well hit up the federal register and EOs – you’ll need those, too.
The more you know…
Once he conquers Greenland we can rename Nuuk airport from GOH to D’OH.
The Donald J. (Garbage) Dump International Airport
I doubt he’d want it there. But I think “Biden Terminal C/D” seems pretty appropriate.
@Johhny
Looking forward to the wartime propaganda posters: ‘Nuke Nuuk!’
Are they expecting the airport to go bankrupt? If so…than Donnie’s name on it would be very appropriate.