Florida Airport Renamed After Trump, New Code Set for August
7 verified7 unconfirmed1 contested
Palm Beach International Airport was officially renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9, 2026, after a state law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in March took effect. The Federal Aviation Administration authorized the name change, but the three-letter airport code will remain PBI until August 18, when it transitions to DJT. President Trump celebrated the change on Truth Social, calling it “a very big day” and predicting the airport would become “one of the Greatest and Most Spectacular Airports anywhere in the World.” The Trump Organization, which filed trademark applications for the new name, has stated it will not receive royalties or fees from merchandise sold at the airport under a licensing agreement with Palm Beach County. More than 8 million passengers use the airport annually, and President Trump frequently flies into it on his way to Mar-a-Lago. Airport officials said the transition is a “branding change only” and ownership and operations will not be affected.
What’s verified
Palm Beach International Airport was renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 9, 2026, after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law in March.
The airport’s three-letter code will remain PBI until August 18, when it changes to DJT.
President Trump celebrated the name change on Truth Social, calling it a “very big day” and saying it would become one of the world’s greatest airports.
Eric Trump stated the president’s plane (Trump Force One) was the first to land at the renamed airport at 5:01 a.m. ET on July 9.
The Trump Organization filed trademark applications for “DJT,” “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” and “Donald J. Trump International Airport” in February.
Under a licensing agreement with Palm Beach County, Trump is prohibited from receiving royalties or revenue from merchandise sold at the airport.
More than 8 million passengers travel through the airport annually.
Where accounts differ
On the trademark status: One source states the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the Trump family’s request to trademark the new name on June 18. Another source states that as of July 9 all three trademark applications are still pending approval.
Not yet confirmed
Renaming the airport will cost at least $5.5 million, according to a single report.
A bridge in Tennessee was also renamed the President Donald J. Trump Bridge on the same day, according to one source, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking at the ceremony.
The name change is subject to two separate local lawsuits, per one report.
A 4-mile stretch of the main road linking Mar-a-Lago to the airport was renamed for Trump in January, according to one source.
Weeks before the airport renaming, Trump’s name was removed from the Kennedy Center in Washington after a court battle, per one source.
The trademark applications list a wide range of goods (watches, jewelry, clothing, etc.) and services (airport construction, baggage check-in, lounges, etc.), as reported by one source.
Legal experts quoted in one source suggest a potential loophole in the licensing agreement that could allow Trump to profit from off-airport sales or services not explicitly prohibited.
Misconceptions
The sources note that Trump is not receiving royalties or fees from merchandise sold at the airport, addressing concerns about financial gain from the renaming.
The airport has stated the change is a “branding change only” and does not affect ownership or operations.
One source observes that other U.S. airports named after presidents (John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan) were renamed posthumously or after the president left office, unlike this case.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization
