Florida Agrees to $2.75M Tab for PBI Renaming After Trump

Florida lawmakers agreed Friday to spend $2.75 million in taxpayer funds to rebrand Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport — a figure that began at $5.5 million before the Senate cut it in half during budget negotiations.

For the millions of Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River county residents who use PBI as their primary gateway airport, the settlement means the name on their boarding passes, overhead signs, and departure screens will change. The public will cover the cost. The nonrecurring funds will cover campus-wide signage replacement, vehicle and equipment rebranding, uniform and marketing updates, and technology upgrades to announcement, emergency messaging, and passenger processing systems.

The House initially sought the full $5.5 million, the sum Melbourne-area Sen. Debbie Mayfield requested in a February appropriation filing. The Senate countered at $2.75 million. The House matched that figure Friday evening, public documents show.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 919 into law in March, authorizing the renaming. The bill was sponsored by Mayfield, Palm Beach Gardens Rep. Meg Weinberger, and St. Augustine Rep. Kim Kendall — all Republicans. The House passed the measure 81-30 and the Senate approved it 25-11, both on party-line votes.

The renaming has drawn scrutiny beyond the price tag. As the bill moved through committee, a Trump-owned company filed trademark applications for "President Donald J. Trump International Airport," "Donald J. Trump International Airport," and "DJT," seeking commercial rights on merchandise ranging from clothing to luggage. Senate Democratic Leader-designate Shevrin Jones of Miami Gardens filed amendments to block any Trump profit from the arrangement. Every Republican on the Senate Rules Committee voted them down.

This month, Palm Beach County Commissioners approved a trademark licensing agreement with the Trump Organization on a 4-3 vote. The deal grants the Trump Organization approval authority over marketing materials and requires airport retailers to source branded merchandise from Trump-designated vendors. Critics noted the agreement contains no termination clause, potentially binding the county indefinitely. Because the deal is non-exclusive, it leaves open the possibility of Trump-affiliated entities selling airport-branded goods outside the facility. The Trump Organization told the Associated Press that Trump and his family "will not receive any royalty, licensing fee, or financial consideration whatsoever from the proposed airport renaming."

The airport, which sits roughly four miles from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, handles approximately 8.6 million passengers annually. A final budget implementing the $2.75 million appropriation must clear both chambers before the funds are released.

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