Trump Company Files Trademark Claim on President's Name for Airports

The Trump Organization seeks exclusive rights to use the president's name on airports and related merchandise.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Trump family company has filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the use of President Donald Trump's name on airports and a wide range of airport-related merchandise. The company says it does not plan to charge a fee for the proposed renaming of the Palm Beach International Airport near Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, but it is unclear if the company would seek royalties for using the Trump name at other airports in the future.

Why it matters

This move by the Trump Organization is unprecedented, as presidents typically have to wait years or even decades after leaving office before having airports or other landmarks named after them. The trademark filings raise questions about the Trump family's efforts to profit from the presidency and the president's name.

The details

The Trump Organization has filed trademark applications seeking exclusive rights to use the president's name on airports as well as dozens of related items found at airports, including buses, umbrellas, travel bags, and flight suits. The filings were triggered by a proposed Florida bill to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after Trump, though the company says it does not plan to charge a fee for that renaming. However, the company did not respond when asked if it would seek royalties for using the Trump name at other airports in the future.

  • The Trump Organization filed the trademark applications in early 2026.
  • A Florida bill to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after Trump was proposed around the same time as the trademark filings.

The players

Trump Organization

The family company of President Donald Trump, which has filed the trademark applications seeking exclusive rights to use the president's name on airports and related merchandise.

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, whose name the Trump Organization is seeking to trademark for use on airports and related items.

Josh Gerben

A trademark lawyer who uncovered the Trump Organization's trademark filings and noted that they are unprecedented for a sitting president's private company.

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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 (latimes.com)

“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. These are trademark filings that are completely unprecedented.”

— Josh Gerben, Trademark Lawyer (latimes.com)

What’s next

The Florida bill to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after Trump is still pending, and it remains to be seen if the Trump Organization will seek to enforce its trademark claims on other airports in the future.

The takeaway

The Trump Organization's unprecedented move to trademark the president's name for use on airports and related merchandise raises concerns about the family's efforts to profit from the presidency and the president's name, even while in office.