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A Florida Senate transportation committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced legislation that would rename Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport, sending the proposal to its next step in the legislative process.
The measure, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne, cleared the committee with support from all six Republicans and three Democrats.
“President Trump is the first president that Florida has had in our history, and I think it’s very appropriate for us to be naming one of the other icons in Palm Beach after him,” Mayfield told Politico.
If enacted, the name change would still require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. It could also depend on a rights agreement allowing commercial use of the Donald J. Trump International Airport name at no cost for signage, advertising, marketing, merchandising and promotions, Politico reported.
Palm Beach County officials have raised concerns about potential royalties associated with using President Trump’s name and about who would bear the cost of changing signage and branding. A bill analysis in the Florida House warned that the proposal would “have a negative impact on local government expenditures.”
Palm Beach County leaders have cautioned that renaming the airport could trigger significant rebranding costs, take as long as two years to implement, and heighten security concerns by drawing larger protests. Even so, a county lobbyist backed the bill, pointing to President Trump’s prominence and impact in the Palm Beach area.
Local leaders have also expressed worry that renaming the airport could draw additional protests or increase security risks. Supporters say the proposal recognizes President Trump’s ties to the region, where he maintains his Mar-a-Lago estate.
In addition to the proposed airport name change, a roadway near Palm Beach International Airport was renamed in Trump’s honor last year. In December, Trump’s name was added to the U.S. Institute of Peace. Last year, the president’s name was also included in the renaming of the Kennedy Center, now dubbed The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.