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The Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, was officially renamed this Thursday as Donald J. Trump International Airport, becoming the first in the United States to bear the name of an incumbent president.
The change took effect at 5:01 a.m., when an air traffic controller announced over the radio: "All aircraft, effective immediately, Palm Beach Airport is now Donald J. Trump International Airport."
The first flight to land under the new name was a private plane carrying Eric Trump and his family in the early hours of the morning. Shortly after, the presidential Boeing 757 made its inaugural landing at the newly renamed facility.
The airport, which has been in operation for 89 years and is located about eight kilometers from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, received its new name following a legislative process that began in early 2026.
The bill HB 919 was approved by the Florida House of Representatives on February 18 with 81 votes in favor and 30 against, and by the state Senate two days later with 25 votes in favor and 11 against. Governor Ron DeSantis, a former rival of Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, signed the legislation on March 30.
The total cost of the change amounts to 5.5 million dollars, which includes updating signage, technological systems, uniforms, and promotional materials. The airport accommodates approximately 8.6 million passengers each year.
The code for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed this Thursday from PBI to DJT, although passengers will still need to use PBI to book flights until August 18, when the new name will appear on tickets and airline reservation systems.
Laura Beebe, director of Airports for Palm Beach County, clarified that "the airlines recently voted in favor of changing the IATA code, which is the code that appears on tickets and in reservation systems. The change will take effect on August 18."
The renaming has not been without controversy. Pilot George W. Poncy Jr. filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming that law HB 919 exceeds state authority and could pose airborne safety risks.
Attorney Victoria Doyle filed another legal action on July 2 challenging the trademark licensing agreement with the company managing Trump's intellectual property. A court in Palm Beach County rejected Poncy's emergency request to suspend the law, although the case remains ongoing.
Among the passengers, reactions have been varied. Nibras Jarrar, one of the travelers consulted, summarized the stance of many: "I knew this was going to happen. For me, it’s simply a change of name. There are many places named after presidents."
This renaming is part of a broader trend since the beginning of Trump's second term.
At least 12 federal elements already bear his name, including the Kennedy Center, the Institute of Peace, dollar bills, commemorative passports, the annual pass for national parks, and several warships from the Navy.
In Florida, DeSantis also signed a law in April that renamed a highway as Trump Highway, and in January a boulevard was inaugurated bearing the president's name. The Trump family will not receive royalties or financial compensation for the use of the name at the airport.
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