Did Donald Trump really deliver Amtrak’s new high-speed trains? The facts tell a different story.
MAGA Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is under fire after attempting to give Donald Trump credit for Amtrak’s new high-speed trains — even though they were ordered under former President Barack Obama.
At an event in Washington D.C.’s Union Station, Duffy praised Trump, saying the trains were “part of @POTUS’ vision to Make Travel Great Again.” He described them as “a better experience for the American public.”
But the reality is very different. In 2016, President Obama approved $2.4 billion for 28 new cutting-edge trains, funded through his 2015 FAST Act, a $305 billion transportation package. Ironically, Duffy — then a Congressman — voted against that bill. Because of the long process of designing, manufacturing, and safety testing, the trains are only just now entering service, years after Obama left office.
Biden’s role in rail expansion
In addition to Obama’s investment, the trains are benefitting from President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which dedicated $66 billion to passenger rail — the largest boost Amtrak has received in its history. That includes $22 billion for repairs, upgrades, and new projects. Trump, meanwhile, opposed the bill when Biden was working to pass it.
Why the confusion?
Infrastructure projects often span multiple presidencies, which can make it easier for politicians to take credit when a long-term project finally reaches the public. In this case, though, the timeline is clear: Obama funded the trains, Biden expanded investment, and Trump is trying to rebrand their success as his own.
For observers, this episode highlights a broader problem in U.S. politics: some leaders are more interested in claiming credit than in addressing the actual work that goes into improving infrastructure.
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