Palm Beach International Airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9, 2026, marking the first time a major commercial airport in the United States has been named after a sitting president. The change took effect earlier today, with new signage installed and the Federal Aviation Administration confirming the transition.
The renaming followed legislation signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 30, 2026. The airport, located in West Palm Beach about 5 miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, will also change its airport code from PBI to DJT, a transition scheduled to take effect on August 18, 2026.
The renaming process included a licensing agreement between Palm Beach County and Trump’s company. Palm Beach County commissioners voted 4-3 on May 5, 2026, to approve the deal, which grants Trump’s organization control over trademark rights, branding, and merchandising tied to the airport name. According to the agreement, Palm Beach County is permitted to use the name “President Donald J. Trump International Airport” for signage, merchandise, and other public-facing materials.
The Licensing Agreement and Trademark Rights
The licensing agreement represents an unusual arrangement for a presidential airport. Under the deal, Trump’s company, DTTM Operations, retains ownership of the airport name and associated trademarks but grants the county a royalty-free license to use them. The agreement allows Trump’s organization to exercise oversight over how the name is used in branding and marketing at the facility, a level of control that sets this renaming apart from other presidential airports.
According to The New York Times, the Trump family will not directly profit from branded merchandise sold at the airport under the current agreement, though the licensing arrangement does grant Trump’s company broader control over the airport’s commercial identity than typical presidential name agreements.
Sources
- WPBF — confirmed the official renaming effective July 9, 2026, and noted it is the first airport named after a sitting president
- Reuters — reported the name change and DeSantis’s March 30 signing of the legislation
- NBC News — documented DeSantis signing the bill on March 30, 2026
- Florida Phoenix — detailed the May 5, 2026, licensing agreement approval and its terms
- The New York Times — explained the trademark and merchandising provisions of the licensing deal
- Palm Beach International Airport official website — confirmed July 9 effective date and August 18 airport code change date
