In a move that has sparked both celebration and controversy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed legislation renaming Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach after President Donald J. Trump. The airport, located just minutes from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, will officially become the President Donald J. Trump International Airport, with the change expected to take effect on July 1, 2026.
The bill, which passed the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature along largely party lines in February 2026, allocates approximately $5.5 million for updating signage, branding, systems, and other infrastructure at the airport. A South Florida congressman has also floated the idea of changing the airport code from PBI to something incorporating Trump’s initials, such as DJT.
Trump Joins a Club of Presidents
If the change is finalized, Palm Beach International would become the ninth major U.S. commercial airport named after a president. Others include:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Washington, D.C. area)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston)
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
- And several more honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman, and others.
Trump would be the first sitting president to have a commercial airport renamed in his honor during his term.
Trademark Controversy
The renaming process drew extra attention when the Trump Organization filed trademark applications for “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” “Donald J. Trump International Airport,” and the potential code “DJT.” The filings cover a wide range of airport-related goods and services. Trump representatives stated that neither the president nor his family would receive any royalties or licensing fees from the Palm Beach renaming, describing the move as purely protective to prevent misuse of the name by others. Critics, including some Democrats in the legislature, raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and the precedent it might set.
