Palm Beach Airport Officially Renamed After President Donald Trump

Palm Beach International Airport in Florida has officially been renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport, marking another prominent public institution to bear President Donald Trump's name during his second term in office.

The change, which took effect on Thursday, reflects Trump's strong political influence in Florida, where his Mar-a-Lago estate is located. Speaking to Fox News, Eric Trump said his father has become closely associated with Palm Beach and the state, calling him one of Florida's most recognizable figures.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation in March approving the airport's new name. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also updated the airport's three-letter identifier from PBI to DJT. However, travelers will still need to use the PBI airport code when booking flights until August 18, when airline reservation systems, baggage tags, and tickets are fully updated.

Airport officials said the renaming project cost approximately $5.5 million.

Eric Trump and members of the Trump family arrived aboard the first aircraft to land at the newly renamed airport before sunrise on a private jet. During an interview with Fox News' "Fox & Friends," Eric Trump joked that he wanted to ensure a UPS cargo plane was not the first aircraft to touch down after the official name change.

JetBlue Airways remains the airport's largest carrier, while Delta Air Lines and American Airlines together account for roughly two-thirds of all flights operating through the airport.

The airport renaming is part of a broader effort to attach Trump's name to various federal initiatives and institutions since he began his second presidential term. His name has already been assigned to a planned class of U.S. Navy warships, a visa program for wealthy foreign investors, a government-operated prescription drug website, and federally backed savings accounts for children.

The administration has also sought to reshape several federal institutions in Washington. While the Trump name was added to the United States Institute of Peace building, courts blocked an effort to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Several U.S. airports have previously been named after political leaders, including the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, which retained its original LIT airport code. Airports in Las Vegas and San Jose have also been renamed in honor of former lawmakers.