Commissioners in Palm Beach County, Fla., approved a trademark and licensing agreement with President Trump’s family business on Tuesday, a step required to rename Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed legislation in March to rename the airport that Mr. Trump flies in and out of on his way to and from his nearby Mar-a-Lago estate. The Trump family business had filed to trademark the airport name in February, raising questions about whether the family would profit from the renaming.
Under the new agreement, the Trump family won’t profit from branded merchandise sold at the airport. But the agreement does not prevent the family from profiting off any such merchandise sold outside the airport’s premises, according to Josh Gerben, a trademark lawyer.
It also gives the Trump family control over any biographical material presented at the airport, or on airport materials. And it requires the airport to pick a vendor to provide any branded merchandise from a list approved by the Trump family business.
Mr. Gerben called the agreement “extremely unusual when it comes to an honorary naming of an airport.” He noted that other airports named after presidents, such as Kennedy in New York and Reagan in Washington, do not have licensing agreements with private businesses benefiting those presidents’ families.
Commissioners adopted the agreement by a 4-to-3 vote, with one Democrat joining the three Republicans on the board. It had already been personally signed by Mr. Trump, according to commission meeting documents. It included several potential logos, including one with an eagle that resembles the presidential seal.
At least two commissioners complained about having received the agreement only on Monday.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first time that local officials and Palm Beach County residents were able to weigh in on the airport renaming. County officials emphasized that they were not debating the renaming itself, and characterized the licensing agreement as necessary to protect the county from potential lawsuits over unauthorized uses of the Trump airport trademark.
Still, emotions often ran high at the meeting, which drew Trump fans in MAGA gear as well as residents who spoke against the renaming.
The new name will take effect on July 1, pending certain administrative changes by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Patricia Mazzei is the lead reporter for The Times in Miami, covering Florida and Puerto Rico.
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