Trump says he’ll free infrastructure funds for New York if Penn Station is renamed after him

Trump also demanded Dulles airport be given his name in exchange for funding NY-NJ tunnel and subway extension

Donald Trump has told the Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, that he will unfreeze funds for major infrastructure projects in New York and New Jersey if he supports renaming Dulles international airport in Virginia and Penn Station in New York City after him, according to media reports.

The demand, which was first reported on Thursday by Punchbowl News, comes after the president in October halted $18bn in funding for a major subway line expansion in New York City as well as a new rail tunnel connecting the city to New Jersey. The funding freeze was announced on the first day of a 43-day government shutdown in which Schumer, who represents New York, played a major role.