A Florida airport was renamed after US President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking the latest move by his supporters to expand his name and image across public landmarks and official symbols.
The airport, formerly known as Palm Beach International Airport for nearly five decades, is now called President Donald J. Trump International Airport after the renaming was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Trump welcomed the move in a post on Truth Social, saying the airport would become “one of the Greatest and Most Spectacular Airports anywhere in the World”, reports AFP/BSS.
His son Eric Trump marked the occasion by landing at the airport in the family’s private Boeing 757, known as “Trump Force One”. Speaking on Fox News, he called it “a beautiful day” and said few people were more closely associated with Palm Beach and Florida than his father.
Eric Trump noted that the road leading out of the airport had already been named President Donald J Trump Boulevard, adding that passengers would now see “DJT” on their tickets permanently.
The name change drew mixed reactions from travellers. Corporate pilot Chris Bailey supported the decision, saying Trump had “certainly done enough to warrant a name of an airport”. Others criticised the move, with Palm Beach resident John Manov saying the area’s existing name had a stronger identity and that the change was “in poor taste”.
The airport renaming is part of a wider effort by Trump and his allies to attach his name to public institutions, landmarks and government symbols.
On Thursday, officials, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, unveiled the Donald J. Trump Bridge in Tennessee. Trump’s name has also been added to the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, while large images of him have appeared on government buildings.
The Trump name has been linked to several government initiatives, including visa and medical programmes. His image is also expected to appear on some US passports and already features on National Park passes. The Navy has announced plans for a new “Trump class” of ships, while the Treasury has said his signature will appear on some US dollar notes later this year.
Critics have compared the growing use of Trump’s name and image to personality cults seen in authoritarian states.
Eric Trump rejected such criticism, saying that anything carrying the family name was “slightly controversial”. He said his father felt “honoured” and “humbled” by the airport renaming.
