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Former Republican Sues to Keep Trump's Name Off Airport
Airline pilot George Poncy files lawsuit over Florida's plan to rename Palm Beach airport after former president.
Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:04am
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As the battle over the former president's legacy continues, a lone traveler passes through an airport terminal marked for renaming, raising questions about the appropriate use of public spaces for political branding.Palm Beach TodayAirline pilot and former Republican George Poncy has filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court challenging Florida's plan to rename the Palm Beach International Airport as the 'Donald J. Trump International Airport.' Poncy, who says he has been a Republican long before Trump first ran for office, argues that the state has 'unlawfully stripped' the county of its home rule authority by mandating the name change.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing debate over whether public facilities and infrastructure should bear the name of a former president who has been convicted of crimes. It also speaks to the broader issue of how political figures attempt to cement their legacies through naming rights and branding.
The details
The name change arose from a bill in the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature describing Trump as 'the most consequential president of our lifetime.' However, Poncy, an 83-year-old former Republican, says 'the guy's a criminal' and that he doesn't 'know anything that's named after a criminal.' Poncy argues in his lawsuit that Desantis and the state have 'unlawfully stripped' the county of its home rule authority by mandating the name change.
- The lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on April 18, 2026.
The players
George Poncy
An 83-year-old airline pilot and former Republican who has filed a lawsuit challenging Florida's plan to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after former President Donald Trump.
Ron DeSantis
The Republican governor of Florida who signed the bill mandating the name change to the 'Donald J. Trump International Airport.'
Donald Trump
The former president whose name is set to be placed on the Palm Beach International Airport, despite his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
What they’re saying
“Well, the guy's a criminal. I don't know anything that's named after a criminal. There's no Lucky Luciano Bridge or Jeffrey Epstein Highway. It's insane. It is. It's not much more complicated than that.”
— George Poncy, Airline pilot and former Republican
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide whether to grant an injunction to block the name change before the scheduled renaming ceremony.
The takeaway
This lawsuit underscores the deep divisions in the country over how to remember and honor former political leaders, especially those who have been convicted of crimes. It raises questions about the appropriate use of public spaces and infrastructure for political branding and legacy-building.
