How Penn Station could be renamed 'Trump Station'

"This is the train to Trump Station. Next stop: Trump Station."

Long Island Rail Road commuters may one day hear that announcement under a proposal to rename Penn Station that is gaining momentum from Republican lawmakers and facing little resistance from some key Democrats.

And because the decision would ultimately be made by a White House-appointed board, experts said the name change is a real possibility.

The president and White House officials have signaled their support for renaming the 116-year-old Manhattan transit hub after President Donald Trump, whose administration is leading a multibillion dollar effort to redevelop Penn Station.

In conversations with Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, a source with knowledge of discussions said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought up the renaming of Penn Station in negotiations over the release of billions more in federal funds for the construction of the Gateway rail tunnel that would provide a new link for Penn commuters across the Hudson River. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private conversation.

White House administration officials did not respond to requests for comment, but have not disputed the assertion.

Trump, talking to reporters aboard Air Force One last month, said Schumer suggested the name change. Schumer, in a social media post, called the assertion an "absolute lie." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the name change was "something the president floated in his conversation" with Schumer.

Addressing his administration’s withholding of Gateway funding in a Feb. 16 post on Truth Social, Trump said he was against the federal government funding cost overruns. The renaming, he said, was brought up by "certain politicians and construction union heads, not me." He also questioned why it’s currently named after another state. "I LOVE Pennsylvania, but it is a direct competitor to New York," he wrote.

Ultimately, the decision to rename Penn would be made by its owner, Amtrak, a quasi-federal agency, and its board of directors, whose members are appointed by the White House. The current nine-member board currently includes Duffy, who has said Trump Station "has a nice ring to it," and one other Trump appointee. Members hold five-year terms, but can be removed any time by the CEO, whose office is currently vacant.

Experts said the White House would hold considerable influence over the decision, as Amtrak relies on federal funding, including for the Penn Station redevelopment project.

Train stations have been renamed before at the urging of the White House. After President Barack Obama in 2014 signed a law directing 30th Street Station in Philadelphia to be renamed after the late William Gray III, a Pennsylvania politician and civil rights leader, Amtrak offered alternative tributes before agreeing three years later to comply. In 2019, signs went up for William H. Gray III 30th Street Station.

Amtrak officials did not respond to requests for comment or information on renaming a train station.

Opened in 1910, the Manhattan rail hub was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, which later became the Penn Central Transportation Company. It owned other "Penn Stations" still in operation, including in Newark and Baltimore. Amtrak took over ownership of the stations following Penn Central going bankrupt in the 1970s.

The idea to rename the iconic station after the New York-born real estate developer would follow other rebranding efforts of institutions, including the Trump Kennedy Center and the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace.

Schumer has declined to formally weigh in on the issue, except to deny that he suggested the name change. The source with knowledge of the discussions said the Trump administration has sought to have the renaming codified in federal legislation.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) suggested progressive opposition to the name change is reason enough to support the measure. "That alone may be proof it’s the right idea," he said in a statement to Newsday.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) said he preferred to "focus on issues that actually matter to American families."

"You can call Penn Station whatever you want, but it won’t make groceries or gas cheaper or housing more affordable," Suozzi said in a statement.

Shortly after the federal government took control of the Penn Station redevelopment effort, which was previously led by New York State and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Gov. Kathy Hochul also signaled she would not stand in the way of Trump putting his name on New York’s busiest train station, used by more 600,000 travelers each day.

"If he puts $7 billion into it? Who knows?" Hochul said last April. "It would not be my favorite thing to call it, but it’ll save us $1.3 billion that I’m not planning to spend that can help me manage other costs."

Last month, Hochul added that Trump can call Penn Station whatever he wants, and that "New York has nothing to do with that." But she called it "ridiculous" that the Gateway project could be held up "over who’s going to name" the station. Her office declined to comment further.

New York leaders could be making a calculated political decision by not putting up roadblocks to a renaming, said Michael Smart, director of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

"There’s a ... very practical argument that says we shouldn't fight this. Get the money. Get the redevelopment done. And if New Yorkers reject the name, you can always rename it after the ink has dried and all the funds have been spent," said Smart. "For many people, I think, 'name the station after me, or I won't play nice with you' doesn't come across great."

At Penn Station during a recent weekday afternoon, commuters’ feelings on renaming the facility appeared to track their feelings on Trump himself.

Visiting New York for his sales job, Gabe McGuinness, of Austin, Texas, called the idea "stupid," but on brand for the president.

"He needs to have everything named after him. Trump Accounts. Trump this. Trump that. Like, why? It’s been Penn Station for how long?" said McGuinness, 42. 

Shay Baron, of Cedarhurst, said naming the station after Trump would be a worthy trade-off if it meant major improvements for Penn, including faster trains.

"I think if he puts the money where his mouth is and he’s going to redevelop it and do the obvious upgrade that’s needed, then I have no issues with it," said Baron, 32, who also wondered why the station bears another state’s name. "We’re here in New York."

The Penn Station name is "sacrosanct in the annals of New York City history" said David Morrison, who has authored several books about LIRR train stations.

"It has been over 116 years that the name Penn Station has been part of the heartbeat of Manhattan," Morrison said. "Leave the name alone."