United States President Donald Trump is looking to rebuild Penn Station by any means necessary. The President is reportedly considering following a plan that would see New York’s famous Madison Square Garden relocated if the arena’s owner is willing to work with him, via Gothamist.
A group representing the Grand Penn Community Alliance, a nonprofit financed by wealthy conservative donor Thomas Klingenstein, originally proposed during a closed-door Oval Office meeting in September, and if it is approved, it would see the Garden removed from above Penn Station, which facilitates 600,000 daily passengers.
The proposal would see the arena by a fountain and green lawn in between the new Penn and Moynihan Train Hall and moved across Seventh Avenue.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler has criticized the lack of transparancy surround ing the proposals surrounding Penn Station’s restoration.
“We don’t know how it’s going to be financed … President Trump is involved and maybe he’ll select the winning bidder. On what criteria? We don’t know,” Nadler said. “What are the criteria for selecting the winning proposals? How much money you gave to the Trump campaign?”
No move can be made without the cooperation of New York Knicks owner James Dolan, who has previously rejected any idea of movign the Garden.
“No, I’m not going to move Madison Square Garden,” Dolan said in early 2023.
For his part, Klingstein says that his proposal for the restored Penn Statino would invoke conservative values.
“We [conservatives] believe in such a thing as great men, which liberals tend not to,” he said. “So I think there’s a natural connection between classical architecture and conservatism, and I think it makes sense for Trump, who’s trying to Make America Great Again. He, too, is looking backwards.”
Klingstein also thinks Trump’s name would belong on the new station.
“This is the kind of thing that not only would Trump want to put his name on it, but should put his name on it,” he said. “If it comes to pass, it will be an example of one man — because Trump is the only one who can make this happen — doing a great thing.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.