Political Irony

Axios reports that some House Republicans, including Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, a member of GOP leadership, introduced a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to the “Donald J. Trump International Airport”. This would mean that both D.C. airports would sport names of former Republican presidents (the smaller airport – DCA – is named after Ronald Reagan).

Reschenthaler told Fox News, “In my lifetime, our nation has never been greater than under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump. As millions of domestic and international travelers fly through the airport, there is no better symbol of freedom, prosperity and strength than hearing ‘Welcome to Trump International Airport’ as they land on American soil.”

Given the Republican razor-thin majority in the House, and a Democratic Senate, it is unlikely the bill would pass, but that didn’t stop Democrats from making fun of it:

• Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represents part of Dulles, quipped “Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison.”
• Rep. Jamie Raskin opines “If they name it after Trump, there could be continued round-trip service to Moscow.”
• Rep. Don Beyer reminds us of Trump’s infamous Muslim travel ban which resulted in detentions at Dulles where, for example, a 71-year-old man with a heart condition was detained and denied access to a lawyer. Beyer also said on eX-Twitter, “I remember Republicans like those who wrote this bill hiding and giving mealy mouthed responses when asked about the suffering Trump’s Muslim ban caused. They know Dulles will never be renamed after Trump. Again, that’s not the point, the point is to suck up to their Dear Leader.”

Update: Democrats propose a bill to rename some federal prison (likely in Florida, as close to Mar-a-Lago as possible), to the “Donald J. Trump Correctional Facility”. I wish!