Palm Beach International Airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9, 2026, marking a historic moment in U.S. aviation: Trump is the first sitting president to have an airport named after him.
The name change took effect after legislation signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in March. The Federal Aviation Administration authorized the transition, and Trump’s private aircraft was the first to land at the newly renamed facility at 5:01 a.m. on Thursday, according to the Washington Times.
The renaming process carries a substantial cost. The airport estimates the total rebranding effort—covering signage, technology systems, uniforms, and printed materials—will cost approximately $5.5 million, according to the Washington Times. Florida’s 2026-2027 state budget allocated $2.75 million toward the project, leaving the county responsible for the remainder.
The airport’s three-letter identification code will officially switch from PBI to DJT on August 18, though the Federal Aviation Administration has already directed pilots and air traffic controllers to use the new code for flight planning and operations. Until that date, passengers should continue using PBI when booking flights and checking baggage, airport officials advised.
The renaming has sparked significant controversy. Trump took the unusual step of registering trademarks for the airport’s new name through DTTM Operations, his family company that manages his intellectual property. According to NPR, the Trump Organization filed three trademark applications in February for “DJT,” “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” and “Donald J. Trump International Airport”—all still pending approval as of early July.
The Trump Organization stated through a spokesperson that Trump and his family will not receive royalties, licensing fees, or financial consideration from the airport renaming. However, trademark attorney Josh Gerben told NPR that the licensing agreement contains potential loopholes. Because the license is non-exclusive, Trump could theoretically license the airport name trademarks to third parties for merchandise sales outside the airport, a scenario the contract does not explicitly restrict.
This distinction sets the Trump International Airport apart from other presidential namesakes. While a dozen U.S. airports bear the names of American presidents—including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport—none of those presidents held their own trademarks to the names, according to NPR. Airports named after presidents have traditionally been designated after they left office through decisions made by local communities, not imposed by state legislation.
Democratic Representative Lois Frankel of Florida called the renaming “a clear overreach” by the state legislature, noting that no public vote was held. Two lawsuits are currently challenging the renaming: one filed by a pilot claiming safety and communication risks, and another by a trademark attorney seeking to halt the process, according to the Sun Sentinel.
The airport reassured passengers that the change is in name only. “While we recognize that the required name change may be received in different ways by our passengers, we’re grateful for your continued support through this transition period,” airport officials stated, according to the Washington Times. The facility continues to serve more than 8 million passengers annually across over a dozen airlines.
Trump, who declared Palm Beach his permanent residence in 2019, uses the airport frequently to travel between his Mar-a-Lago estate and the White House. A four-mile stretch of road connecting Mar-a-Lago to the airport was also renamed Donald J. Trump Boulevard in January, in compliance with state law, according to the Washington Times.
Sources
- Washington Times — official name change date, cost estimate, Eric Trump’s statement, Mar-a-Lago residency, Trump Force One landing details
- NPR — Trump as first sitting president with airport named after him, trademark filings, licensing agreement details and loopholes, comparison to other presidential airports
- Sun Sentinel — renaming process, legislation background, legal challenges, signage updates, expert commentary on impact
- New York Times — official renaming confirmation on July 9, 2026
