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The Florida Senate approved on Thursday a measure to rename Palm Beach International Airport in honor of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who resides at Mar-a-Lago in that county, reported the agency EFE.
The Republican-majority state Senate approved the bill with 25 votes in favor and 11 against. The proposal had already been approved days earlier by the Florida House of Representatives, so now it only awaits the signature of Governor Ron DeSantis for the change to be official.
State Senator Debbie Mayfield, the proponent of the initiative, argued during the debate that the president deserves the honor for his management of immigration issues and for the actions taken against fentanyl trafficking. She noted that he is the first resident of Florida to be elected president of the United States.
The project has generated criticism among Democratic lawmakers, who question the estimated cost of 5.5 million dollars in public resources to modify signage, branding elements, the website, and technology related to the airport.
In addition, some representatives noted that the measure does not necessarily reflect the will of the residents of Palm Beach County, where in the 2024 presidential election Trump received fewer votes than the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, despite winning in the state.
The proposal is part of a series of tributes initiated in various institutions and public spaces aimed at honoring the president, amidst a political context marked by similar initiatives in other cities and organizations.
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