Trump Seeks to Trademark 'Donald J. Trump International Airport'

The former president's company filed trademark applications for potential airport names, coinciding with Florida's move to rename Palm Beach airport after him.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Trump Organization has filed trademark applications for potential airport names including 'President Donald J. Trump International Airport,' 'Donald J. Trump International Airport,' and 'DJT.' This comes as Florida Republicans advance legislation to rename the Palm Beach airport after the former president, who frequents his nearby Mar-a-Lago estate. The Trump company says the move is to protect the brand and prevent misuse, though it claims the president and his family will not receive any financial benefit.

Why it matters

This is an unusual move, as presidents typically have to wait years after leaving office, or until after their death, before having airports named after them. The Trump Organization's trademark filings suggest an effort to commercialize the Trump brand and name, raising questions about conflicts of interest and presidential norms.

The details

The Trump Organization filed the trademark applications last week with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, seeking to control the use of the Trump name in connection with airports and airport-themed merchandise. This coincides with Florida Republicans advancing legislation to rename the Palm Beach airport as the 'President Donald J. Trump International Airport,' which the Trump company says it will not profit from directly.

  • The Trump Organization filed the trademark applications last week.
  • The Florida House approved the bill to rename the Palm Beach airport this week, and it now moves to the state Senate.

The players

Trump Organization

The business conglomerate owned by former President Donald Trump, which has filed trademark applications to control the use of the Trump name in connection with airports and airport-themed merchandise.

Florida Republicans

State lawmakers who are advancing legislation to rename the Palm Beach airport as the 'President Donald J. Trump International Airport.'

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The federal agency that would need to approve the renaming of the Palm Beach airport, which is seen as unlikely to be a major obstacle as it is part of the Trump administration.

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What they’re saying

“To be clear, the president and his family will not receive any royalty, licensing fee or financial consideration whatsoever from the proposed airport renaming.”

— Trump Organization

“The fact pattern here is unusual, to say the least.”

— Josh Gerben, Trademark Lawyer (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Florida Senate still needs to approve the bill to rename the Palm Beach airport, which appears increasingly likely given the state House's approval. The Federal Aviation Administration would also need to sign off on the name change.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Trump Organization's efforts to commercialize the Trump brand and name, even as the former president seeks to cement his legacy through infrastructure projects like renaming airports. It raises concerns about conflicts of interest and the blurring of lines between the presidency and private business.