Florida renames Palm Beach airport after Trump
President Trump has golf courses, skyscrapers, Washington’s first performing arts venue and a prescription drug hub named after him, but now he can add an eponymous airport to that list.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday to rename Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport.
The bill, which passed the Florida House and Senate in February, gives the state the authority to name major commercial service airports and includes a provision to rename Palm Beach Airport.
Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club is about 4 miles from the airport, and that stretch of road from the airport to Mar-a-Lago was renamed President Donald J. Trump Boulevard in January.
The newly signed law is expected to take effect July 1, subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval and rights agreements, according to the legislation. The FAA said changing an airport’s name is a “local matter and the FAA does not approve airport name changes.”
The agency added that the FAA “must perform certain administrative tasks, including updating navigation charts and databases.”
The legislation does not impact the three-letter airport code PBI, but Rep. Brian Mast has introduced legislation to change the code to DJT.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on social media that the FAA was already working to change the airport code.
Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons who also runs the Trump Organization, said he was “proud to have played a small part in making this happen.” He thanked Mr. DeSantis, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Florida lawmakers.
The Trump Organization had previously filed a trademark application for use of the president’s name on airports, but the family-owned company said it “would not receive any royalties, licensing fees, or financial consideration of any kind for the proposed airport name change.”
DTTM, the company acting on behalf of the Trump Organization, has filed three intent-to-use applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” “Donald J. Trump International Airport,” and “DJT.” They relate to airport construction, repair and airport lounges, as well as merchandise including clothing, watches, jewelry, umbrellas, tie clips and socks.
