Trump Files Trademark for 'President Donald J. Trump International Airport'

The former president's company seeks exclusive rights to the airport name, raising concerns over conflicts of interest.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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DTTM Operations, a private entity that manages former President Donald Trump's intellectual property, has filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark three potential airport names: 'President Donald J. Trump International Airport,' 'Donald J. Trump International Airport,' and 'DJT.' The filing comes as the Biden administration has called for proposals to redesign Washington D.C.'s Dulles International Airport, and Trump has expressed interest in renaming the airport after himself.

Why it matters

This move by Trump's company is highly unusual, as airport names are typically owned and controlled by the government entities that manage the facilities. Trademark attorneys say this filing creates a 'structural question' about whether an airport authority would need to license the name from Trump's company if they were to rename an airport after him, potentially creating conflicts of interest.

The details

DTTM Operations, a Delaware-based LLC that protects over 130 trademark names associated with Trump, filed the paperwork in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The filing comes just weeks after the Biden administration put out a call for architects to redesign Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. Trump has previously expressed interest in renaming Dulles and Florida's Palm Beach International Airport after himself.

  • On January 13, 2026, Senators Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, and Angela Alsobrooks proposed the Stop Executive Renaming for Vanity and Ego (SERVE) Act to prohibit the naming of federal buildings after sitting presidents.
  • In February 2026, DTTM Operations filed the trademark paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The players

DTTM Operations

A private entity that manages former President Donald Trump's intellectual property, trademarks, and likeness on merchandise.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has expressed interest in renaming airports after himself.

Bernie Sanders

A U.S. Senator from Vermont who proposed legislation to prohibit the naming of federal buildings after sitting presidents.

Chris Van Hollen

A U.S. Senator from Maryland who proposed the SERVE Act alongside Sanders and Alsobrooks.

Angela Alsobrooks

A U.S. Senator from Maryland who proposed the SERVE Act alongside Sanders and Van Hollen.

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What they’re saying

“While presidents and public officials have had landmarks named in their honor, a sitting president's private company has never in the history of the United States sought trademark rights in advance of such naming.”

— Josh Gerben, Trademark attorney

“Airport names almost always originate from the governmental body that owns or manages the facility. They are not owned or licensed by privately held entities.”

— Josh Gerben, Trademark attorney

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the trademark applications to proceed, which could determine if Trump's company can profit from any airport renamings in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential conflicts of interest that can arise when a former president's private business seeks to capitalize on public assets like airports. It raises questions about the appropriate boundaries between elected officials and their private enterprises.