Florida Governor Signs Bill to Rename Airport after Trump
On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill that will change the name of Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Back in February, both the Florida House and Senate voted in favor of this move, with the bills passing at 81-30 and 25-11, respectively. This legislation allows states to designate “major commercial service airports,” specifically naming Palm Beach International Airport in honor of former President Trump. The name change is set to take effect on July 1, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which has already been contacted for this purpose.
The Florida Republican Party celebrated this development with a post on X, expressing pride in hosting what they dubbed a “monumental monument” to Trump.
Interestingly, Trump has long considered Mar-a-Lago, located just a few miles from the airport, to be his primary residence. A Florida state legislator mentioned that Trump’s ties to the area and his popularity were significant factors in the decision to rename the airport.
Kimberly Benza, a spokesperson for the Trump Organization, clarified that neither Trump nor his family would receive any royalties or fees from the airport’s renaming. Instead, she mentioned that the organization plans to transfer rights associated with the name back to the local county at no charge. According to Palm Beach County, the airport managed over 8 million passengers from May 2023 to May 2024.
