President Donald Trump is personally overseeing the renovation of Washington DC's Dulles International Airport and is advocating for the hub to be renamed in his honour, according to reports. He met with half a dozen construction and infrastructure firms at the White House earlier this month, with executives presenting proposals for an overhaul.
The pitches included building new terminals, revamping the airport's layout and scrapping the shuttle system. One company suggested renaming the shuttles "Direct Jet Transports" – a nod to the president's initials, DJT. AECOM, a firm involved in Trump's White House ballroom project, was among those present.
The renaming campaign forms part of a broader pattern. Last month, Trump reportedly proposed renaming Dulles in exchange for releasing more than $16bn in funding for the Gateway Tunnel project between New York and New Jersey. The White House is said to have offered Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer the funds if he agreed to rename both Penn Station in New York and Dulles after the president. Schumer swiftly rejected the offer, saying he lacked the authority.
Dulles serves around 27 million passengers a year, including 10 million international travellers, yet it ranks below many major airports in passenger satisfaction. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority already has a plan to overhaul the ageing facility and phase out the shuttles within the next 15 years. However, Trump officials believe that is too slow and are exploring ways to make rapid improvements without waiting for Congress.
A White House spokesman said the administration was focused on improving "the international gateway to our nation's capital". "Dulles should inspire pride and awe in foreign travelers visiting our country and American citizens returning home," said Kush Desai. The Transportation Department said it was "exploring a host of public-private partnership opportunities to remake Dulles at the speed of Trump". Since returning to office in 2025, the president has put his name to numerous government properties, including prominent Washington buildings, a planned class of Navy warships, a visa programme for wealthy foreigners, a government-run prescription drug website and federal savings accounts for children.
Trump has also embarked on ambitious construction projects, including a $400m White House ballroom set to open by summer 2028, and has expressed interest in a 250-foot "Independence Arch" near the Potomac River, nicknamed "Arc de Trump".
