Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport, located less than five miles from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, has been officially renamed the President Donald J Trump International Airport. This change follows a state law signed in March by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, mandating the renaming. A county commission, reluctantly approving the move in a 4-3 vote in May, also agreed to a trademark deal with the Trump Organization amid fears of potential consequences for non-compliance.

The rebranding is visible on the airport’s website and highway signs directing drivers to the airport. However, inside the terminals, ticket counters, and baggage areas, the transformation is minimal. Many physical signs still display the airport’s former name, Palm Beach International (PBI). There is no clear timeline for when all signage will be updated or when the airport code will officially change to DJT, the president’s initials, which is set to become the formal aviation industry designation starting August 18, 2026.

The official handover occurred on July 9, 2026, when "Trump Force One," carrying the president’s son Eric Trump, landed shortly after 5 a.m., marking the first flight under the new airport name.

The renaming has faced opposition. Joel Flores, one of three county commissioners who voted against the trademark and licensing agreement, criticized the deal, suggesting it would enrich the Trump family and vowed to attempt to block further moves related to the rebranding. Additionally, George Poncy, a retired pilot, expressed safety concerns, warning that changing the airport’s identifier from PBI—long embedded in air traffic control and navigation systems—could cause confusion and create a safety hazard.

As the airport awaits full remodeling and signage updates, the rebranding project remains incomplete and controversial.

Sources