Palm Beach Airport Renamed for President Trump

Palm Beach International Airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport on Thursday, making Donald Trump the first sitting U.S. president to have an airport named after him. The Federal Aviation Administration changed the airport’s identifier code from PBI to DJT as the rebranding took effect, marking a milestone that has sparked celebration, controversy, and two ongoing lawsuits.

A Ceremonial First Landing

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, marked the occasion by landing Trump Force One — the family’s private jet — at the renamed facility at 5:01 a.m. on July 9. Appearing on “Fox & Friends,” he explained why he personally ensured the first landing was a family affair.

“There’s no way in hell I was letting UPS be the first plane to land, so we got on Trump Force One,” Eric Trump said, as Fox News reported. “We touched down at exactly 5:01 a.m. this morning, and it was a beautiful day.”

He described the moment as deeply personal, calling the plane “the backdrop of so many of the presidential campaign stops” and noting that it was “an incredibly special moment for us this morning.”

How the Renaming Happened

The name change was not a local decision but a state mandate. The Florida Legislature passed HB 919 along party lines in February 2026, and Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law on March 30. The law required Palm Beach County to rename the airport after the president, who declared Palm Beach his permanent residence in 2019 and whose Mar-a-Lago estate sits just miles from the facility.

As CNBC reported, more than 8 million passengers fly through the airport annually on over a dozen airlines. The airport’s FAA code changed from PBI to DJT on July 9, while the IATA code — used for airline reservations and baggage tags — is scheduled to change on August 18.

Breaking Historical Precedent

Trump is the first sitting president to have an airport named after him, breaking decades of tradition. John F. Kennedy International Airport was renamed in December 1963, a month after Kennedy’s assassination. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was renamed in 1998, nearly a decade after Reagan left office. Other presidential airports — including George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and Gerald R. Ford International in Grand Rapids — were named post-presidency.

“Airports named after presidents have traditionally been designated once they leave office and through decisions made by local communities and local authorities — not imposed from above,” Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) said in a statement, as reported by NPR. She called the legislation “a clear overreach” by the state legislature.

The $5.5 Million Funding Dispute

The rebranding carries an estimated price tag of $5.5 million for new signage, branding, and public-facing materials. But the state of Florida allocated only $2.75 million — half the requested amount — leaving Palm Beach County to cover the remainder or implement only partial changes.

Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo told the Tampa Bay Times that he is “not prone to making the full-scale changes until the other half of our request is met.” Some signs may continue to say Palm Beach International Airport indefinitely, and county officials have raised concerns that redirecting airport funds could affect higher-priority infrastructure projects like roof replacement and airfield rehabilitation.

Trademark and Legal Controversies

The renaming has drawn scrutiny over potential financial benefits for the Trump family. DTTM Operations, the company that manages Trump’s intellectual property, filed three trademark applications in February for “DJT,” “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” and “Donald J. Trump International Airport” — all of which remain pending.

The Palm Beach County Commission voted 4-3 in May to approve a licensing agreement allowing free, perpetual use of the name. The agreement explicitly prohibits Trump from receiving royalties from airport merchandise sales. However, legal experts have identified potential loopholes.

“Most of the time, these things are meant to be an honorary renaming and … in this case, obviously, there’s a private entity owned by Trump’s family whose trademarks are now licensed to a publicly-owned airport,” Josh Gerben, a D.C.-based trademark attorney, told NPR. He noted that because the license is non-exclusive, Trump could theoretically license the airport name to third parties for sales outside the airport.

Two lawsuits are currently challenging the name change — one from pilot George W. Poncy Jr., who cites safety concerns and taxpayer costs, and another from a progressive congressional candidate.

What’s Next

Passengers will experience a phased transition over the coming weeks. The old PBI code remains usable for booking until August 18, when the IATA code officially changes to DJT. Signage updates will occur gradually based on available funding, and the airport’s FAQ states that “updates to signage, branding and public-facing materials will occur in phases.”

The airport itself has struck a measured tone in its communications. In an official FAQ, it acknowledged that “the required name change may be received in different ways by our passengers” but emphasized that its “core focus remains the same: providing a safe, reliable and welcoming airport experience.”

Whether the two active lawsuits succeed in blocking or modifying the name change, and whether the state provides the additional funding needed for full rebranding, remain open questions that will shape the airport’s identity in the months ahead.