An airport in Florida is set to receive a new name honouring US President Donald Trump after the state legislature passed a bill endorsing the change on Thursday.
Trump, a property developer known for branding numerous buildings worldwide with his name, has increasingly pursued efforts to cement his legacy through a sweeping image and infrastructure branding initiative across the United States.
Lawmakers in Florida, where Republicans control the legislature, voted in favour of redesignating Palm Beach International Airport as the “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” according to official state records.
The proposal now awaits the signature of Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to approve it despite previously being considered a political rival of Trump.
The airport, located in Palm Beach, a coastal town recognised for its pristine beaches and upscale estates, lies only a short drive from Trump’s private residence, Mar-a-Lago.
Before the change can be finalised, it must also secure authorisation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees airport designations and aviation standards nationwide.
If approved, the renaming would add to a growing list of institutions associated with Trump’s name.
In December, the board selected by the president to oversee the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a cultural venue and memorial dedicated to the late President John F. Kennedy, voted to adopt the title “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
Reports from US media have also indicated that Trump attempted to have Pennsylvania Station in New York and Washington Dulles International Airport renamed in his honour, although those proposals did not succeed.
Separately, the United States Department of the Treasury confirmed that preliminary designs have been prepared for a commemorative $1 coin bearing Trump’s likeness.
However, federal statutes prohibit the depiction of a sitting or living president on US currency, raising legal questions about the feasibility of such a move.
The airport proposal underscores Trump’s continued influence in Florida, a state that has served as both his political base and personal home, and highlights ongoing efforts to attach his name to prominent public landmarks.
What you should know
Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature has approved a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport as “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
The measure awaits Governor Ron DeSantis’s signature and must also receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The move is part of a broader pattern of efforts to rename public institutions after Trump, including changes at the Kennedy Center and proposals involving Penn Station and Dulles Airport.
Drafts for a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trump have also reportedly been prepared, despite laws barring images of sitting presidents on US currency.
