Florida lawmakers pass bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport after Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Florida lawmakers have moved to put President Donald Trump’s name on Palm Beach International Airport, passing a bill that has stirred political debate.

The measure cleared the Senate 25-11 following an 81-30 vote in the House, largely along party lines, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.

Critics, including Representative Lois Frankel, say the decision sidesteps input from Palm Beach County residents. 

Democrats oppose renaming Palm Beach International Airport after Trump

The bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport drew strong party-line reactions, with Republican lawmakers largely in favor and Democrats opposing the move.

“It’s misguided and unfair that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature ignored the voices of Palm Beach County by pushing forward a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport without giving County residents a real opportunity for input,” said Representative Lois Frankel, a Democrat representing West Palm Beach.

The legislation now moves to Governor Ron DeSantis, who has not yet indicated whether he will sign it. The airport renaming follows last year’s approval of a downtown Miami property donation for a planned Donald Trump presidential library. Trump, originally from New York, relocated to Florida in 2019 and now resides primarily at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

Ahead of Thursday’s vote, some Democrats raised concerns that the Trump family could profit from the renaming after related trademark applications were filed last week by the private entity managing the Trump Organization’s licenses. 

Democratic State Senator Shevrin Jones proposed an amendment in a Senate companion bill to block the Trump Organization from benefiting financially, but it failed. “No president, Democrat or Republican, should be able to benefit” from an airport trademark license, Jones said.

What did spokesperson for Trump organization say?

A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said that neither Trump nor his family would receive any royalties or licensing fees from renaming Palm Beach International Airport, and the House bill makes clear that the branding would come at no cost.

The spokesperson said, “To be clear, the President and his family will not receive any royalty, licensing fee, or financial consideration whatsoever from the proposed airport renaming,” said Kimberly Benza, Trump Organization director of executive operations. She stressed that the Florida bill requires a license agreement from The Trump Organization but that they are “willing to provide this right to his hometown county at no charge.”

Trump eyes other major landmarks for renaming: report

Despite these assurances, recent trademark applications for names including “DONALD J. TRUMP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,” “PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,” and “DJT” have raised questions because of Trump’s known interest in renaming buildings, train stations, and airports after himself, and the potential for his family to profit.

Trump has also suggested renaming Washington’s Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station. Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center has already been renamed the “Trump Kennedy Center” after a board dominated by Trump allies approved the change.

In North Carolina, Republican Representative Addison McDowell introduced legislation to rename Dulles Airport after Trump. A few other Republicans co-sponsored the bill, which is still under discussion by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. However, having two airports named after Trump could create confusion, potentially complicating that effort.