Palm Beach Airport Renamed Trump International as His Jet Touches Down
Palm Beach International Airport has been officially renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport, with the president's Boeing 757 making the inaugural landing.
This 89-year-old airport, situated five miles from Mar-a-Lago, underwent a name change through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Eric Trump tweeted from "Trump Force One" as the aircraft neared the newly branded airport, sharing a video of an air traffic controller announcing the name change at 5:01 a.m.
“Attention all aircraft, effective immediately, Palm Beach International Airport is now Donald J. Trump International Airport,” the controller declared over the radio.
Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) were also aboard the flight.
President Trump had not yet landed at his namesake airport, having returned to the White House from the NATO summit in Turkey approximately three hours before his family arrived in Florida.
Eric Trump expressed pride in the change on X, stating, “There is no person who has done more for Florida and our country, and no one more deserving of this incredible honor.”
He added, “As a son, and someone who flies out of this airport nearly every day, I will forever be proud to see the initials ‘DJT’ on my boarding pass. Congratulations Dad — I’m happy to have played a big role in making this happen.”
The renaming has sparked joy among Trump supporters while drawing ire from Democrats.
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), representing parts of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, criticized the decision as “misguided and unfair” earlier this year.
She stated, “Decisions about naming major infrastructure should wait until after an honoree’s service has concluded.”
Trump has embraced unprecedented opportunities to attach his name and image to U.S. currency, passports, and various buildings, including the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center, which faced a reversal due to a court order.
There is historical precedent for such name changes. For instance, Little Rock's airport was renamed Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in 2012 while Hillary Clinton was still serving as Secretary of State.
In 1998, legislation pushed by Republicans led to Washington National Airport being renamed in honor of former President Ronald Reagan during Bill Clinton's presidency.
Many residents in predominantly Democratic Washington continue to refer to the airport by its former name or its airport code, DCA.
Airports named after other presidents include Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush.
