Floridaβs Republicanβled Legislature this week pushed through a bill that would rename Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach the βPresident Donald J. Trump International Airport,β setting up a final signature from Gov. Ron DeSantis and a required approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before the change takes effect.
The measure passed the Florida House of Representatives 81β30 and the state Senate 25β11 along party lines, advancing a longβdebated idea to attach President Trumpβs name to the airport closest to his MarβaβLago residence. Supporters say the designation reflects Trumpβs ties to the region, he officially made Florida his home years ago and frequently arrives at the airport aboard Air Force One.
Sen. Debbie Mayfield, one of the billβs sponsors, described the legislation as a fitting recognition of Trumpβs personal and political footprint in the state, noting his residency and influence.
βPresident Trump has delivered meaningful results for Florida and the United States, and itβs an honor for me to present this bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport,β Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, said.
House coβsponsor Rep. Meg Weinberger, whose district includes the airport, emphasized that sentiment during floor debate, saying the name pays tribute to Trumpβs connection to the community.
The bill also includes a provision that gives the state authority to name or rename Floridaβs major commercial service airports β a shift from local control to state oversight. The text specifies that Palm Beach International Airport βshall be renamedβ as the Donald J. Trump International Airport, subject to FAA approval and execution of agreements covering rights to use the name.
Not all lawmakers were aligned. Democratic legislators raised objections during floor debate, arguing the process bypassed local input and that the change should wait until after Trumpβs presidency or be subject to a community vote. Representative Lois Frankel, whose House district includes West Palm Beach, said it was βmisguided and unfairβ to advance the renaming without meaningful engagement with Palm Beach County residents.
Other Democrats questioned the timing and costs associated with the rebrand. Before the latest votes, airport officials estimated that altering signs, uniforms, promotional materials and system updates could run about $5.5β―million β a figure discussed in legislative hearings and included in budget requests tied to the billβs implementation.
The trademarking of the new airport name has added another layer of scrutiny. The Trump Organization filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for βDonald J. Trump International Airportβ and similar monikers, raising questions among some lawmakers about potential commercial use or merchandising in connection with the name change.
Supporters said the county would not pay royalties and that licensing agreements would be provided at no cost, though debate persisted around whether that arrangement and trademark filings might still produce indirect financial benefits.
Public sentiment in Palm Beach County itself has been mixed. A local poll cited during legislative discussions showed a sizable share of residents expressing opposition to renaming the airport, even as Republican lawmakers pressed ahead.
If DeSantis signs the bill and the FAA signs off, the renamed airport is expected to take effect around July 2026, marking the latest instance of Trumpβs name being attached to public infrastructure.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
