Donald Trump boarded Air Force One prior to departure from Palm Beach International Airport in Florida on March 23, 2026. The newly branded President Donald J. Trump International Airport, located less than five miles from Mar-a-Lago, joins a host of other entities renamed to satisfy the president's penchant for self-aggrandizement, including passports, street signs, national parks passes, performing arts centers, and golden immigration visas.
On Tuesday, a surprisingly bipartisan group of commissioners voted to hand over trademark and commercial rights of the former Palm Beach International Airport to the county's most notorious resident, opening a lucrative enrichment opportunity for Trump and his family. Analysts predict the president could net millions from the unorthodox legal agreement between the county and DTTM Operations LLC, his Delaware-based company overseeing licensing, marketing, and intellectual property.
Under the leadership of Donald Trump Jr., the company has assumed numerous rights and advantages unusual for such a contract, despite prohibiting direct financial compensation from goods sold at the airport. Trump can choose which vendors manufacture branded merchandise, and the non-exclusive agreement allows the Trump Organization to profit from merchandise sold away from the airport, including on his online store. He can also monetize the airport's new name and license the trademark to any third party, with final approval over how his name, image, and likeness are portrayed.
Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney unconnected to the agreement, noted that the clause limits the county's editorial discretion, ensuring portrayals of Trump align with his preferences. He questioned why Trump's board needs such control and whether they might direct funds to curry favor with businesses.
The commission hearing was the latest step in a process that began in February when Trump's lawyers filed trademark applications for the new airport name, parallel to Florida's Republican lawmakers advancing legislation to mandate the transformation by July 1. Opponents, including Democratic Congresswoman Lois Frankel, condemned the move as misguided and unfair, arguing that decisions about naming major infrastructure should wait until after an honoree's service concludes and include local input.
Curiously, the agreement was approved by the Palm Beach County Commission only narrowly, with a 4-3 vote, the deciding vote cast by Democratic member Maria Sachs after a contentious debate. County staff warned that failure to comply could risk transportation funding. Sachs defended her vote, stating it was limited to approving a licensing agreement necessary to protect the county from trademark liability and ensure lawful operation of a critical public asset.
Eric Trump celebrated the agreement on X, posting the airport's new gold-framed logo and expressing pride. However, the three-letter code PBI will remain unless legislation passes and the FAA updates systems.
