"Mediaite founder Dan Abrams was shocked that reports of President Donald Trump's proposed deal to lift a funding freeze if his name is put on Penn Station were real, telling panelists on CNN NewsNight he originally thought this was a joke. Abrams joined host Abby Phillip on Thursday alongside CNN's Scott Jennings, Ashley Allison, Bill Stepian, and Deja Fox to discuss the quid pro quo, first reported by Punchbowl News."
"Trump demanded that Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) agree to put Trump's name on Penn Station in New York and Washington's Dulles International Airport in exchange for an end to the president's freeze on $16 billion that had been slated for a new rail tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey. I can't believe you're actually defending this one, Abrams said to Jennings, before turning to Deja Fox."
"The Trump administration froze the funding during last fall's government shutdown. New York and New Jersey sued the administration this week in federal court in Manhattan. Construction remains ongoing, but may be halted as early as Friday due to lack of funds. Trump told Schumer he was prepared to unfreeze the money if he agreed to back a plan to rename Penn Station and Dulles International after himself, two people familiar with the conversation told Punchbowl News."
President Trump reportedly conditioned releasing a $16 billion funding freeze for a New York–New Jersey rail tunnel on having his name placed on Penn Station and Dulles International Airport. Dan Abrams reacted with disbelief on CNN's NewsNight, calling the proposal unbelievable and saying he initially thought it was a joke. Chuck Schumer declined, saying he lacked authority to make the change. New York and New Jersey have sued over the funding freeze, construction continues for now, and project work may be halted soon if the funds are not released.
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