Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday renaming Palm Beach International Airport in honor of President Donald Trump. Under House Bill 919, the airport will be redesignated as “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” subject to approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
If approved, the name change would take effect on July 1, and official government records, including maps, would be required to use the new name. The airport’s three-letter identifier, long known as PBI, would also be updated with a Florida congressman introducing separate legislation to change the code to “DJT,” reflecting Trump’s initials.
The legislation passed along party lines, with the Florida Senate approving it 25-11 and the Florida House 81-30. Republican lawmakers backed the effort, calling it appropriate recognition of a sitting president and Florida resident, citing Trump’s longstanding ties to Palm Beach County, including his residence at Mar-a-Lago.
Democrats opposed the bill, calling it unprecedented and raising concerns about an estimated $5.5 million cost to taxpayers, as well as warnings that the change could open the door to private financial gain through branding and merchandise tied to the airport name.
The Trump Organization filed a trademark application for the airport name in February, listing numerous travel-related items and merchandise. However, a Trump Organization spokesperson stated that the president and his family would not receive any royalties, licensing fees, or financial consideration from the renaming, and that the branding would be provided to Palm Beach County at no charge.
The FAA, for its part, clarified in a statement that changing an airport name is a local issue and that the agency does not formally approve such changes, though it must complete administrative tasks such as updating navigational charts and databases.
