TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation that sets Florida on course to rename Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J. Trump International Airport. This is a move that would place the president’s name on one of the state’s highest-profile transportation hubs if federal approvals are secured. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, though the change remains subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval and an agreement with rights holders authorizing the use of Trump’s name at no cost to Palm Beach County.
The law does more than rename one airport. It also shifts authority over the naming of Florida’s major commercial service airports to the state, preempting local control in that area. Under the bill summary, Florida’s seven major commercial service airports are codified in state law, with Palm Beach International Airport the only one renamed.
The measure passed the Legislature by votes of 81-30 in the House and 25-11 in the Senate.
After the signing, Eric Trump wrote on X that he was “proud to have played a small role” in the effort and thanked DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier and others. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller amplified the post.
How does the law impact Central Florida?
While the renaming has drawn national attention, policy experts say the more consequential change may be the law’s transfer of naming authority over major commercial service airports from local governments to the state.
The new law could have ripple effects far beyond South Florida, including potential implications for major transportation hubs in Central Florida such as Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport.
