Florida Approves Renaming Palm Beach Airport After Trump

The $5.5 million name change is supported by state GOP leaders but opposed by Democrats.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Florida legislature has approved a bill to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after former President Donald Trump. The bill now heads to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for final approval. State GOP leaders say the name change honors Trump's record, while Democrats argue it raises ethical concerns around revenue generation and Trump's business interests.

Why it matters

The proposed name change is a politically charged move that reflects the deep partisan divide in Florida politics. It highlights the ongoing debate over how to memorialize Trump's presidency, with Republicans seeking to cement his legacy and Democrats raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

The details

The bill passed the Republican-controlled state legislature in a 25-11 vote. GOP sponsors say the airport, which is located near Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, should bear his name as the first president to reside in Florida. However, Democrats argue the name change is more about generating revenue for Trump's business interests than honoring his record.

  • The Florida legislature approved the bill on February 19, 2026.
  • The bill now awaits the signature of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The Republican Governor of Florida who is expected to sign the bill renaming the Palm Beach International Airport after former President Donald Trump.

Debbie Mayfield

A Republican state senator and sponsor of the bill to rename the airport after Trump.

Meg Weinberger

A Republican state representative and co-sponsor of the bill to rename the airport after Trump.

Shevrin Jones

A Democratic state representative who has objected to the bill, arguing it is more about generating revenue for Trump's business interests than honoring his record.

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What they’re saying

“Regardless of your personal view on the president, his record speaks for itself — President Trump has delivered meaningful results for Florida and the United States.”

— Debbie Mayfield, State Senator (KMPH)

“This is the President's hometown, he lives five miles away from the airport.”

— Meg Weinberger, State Representative (KMPH)

“This is about generating revenue from a public entity or a private company, a company with Donald Trump's interest at the helm, and not the people of the state of Florida.”

— Shevrin Jones, State Representative (KMPH)

What’s next

Governor DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming weeks, officially renaming the Palm Beach International Airport after former President Trump.

The takeaway

The proposed name change of the Palm Beach airport reflects the ongoing partisan battle over Trump's legacy, with Republicans seeking to cement his place in Florida history and Democrats raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the politicization of public assets.