Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed legislation on Monday to rename the largest airport in Palm Beach County as President Donald J. Trump International Airport, the latest effort to affix the Trump name to a civic institution.
The new state law will rebrand Palm Beach International Airport, which the president flies in and out of on his way to and from his nearby Mar-a-Lago estate. The name change, effective July 1, is subject to approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Mr. DeSantis signed the law in private, with little fanfare — an unusual move for the governor, who typically holds public events to sign high-profile bills. A spokeswoman for the governor said a ceremonial signing would be held at a future date.
Mr. Trump has a long history of putting his name on his business ventures, and that practice has only expanded during his presidency. In December, the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — populated largely by members he picked — voted to attach his name to the center. Just last week, the Treasury Department said Mr. Trump’s signature would soon be added to the nation’s paper currency.
State lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Florida House and Senate passed the airport name legislation last month, shortly after the Trump Organization filed trademark applications for potential names.
The applications, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, staked a claim to the names President Donald J. Trump International Airport and Donald J. Trump International Airport, as well as “DJT,” the possible airport code. They also sought to use the names in connection with airport-themed merchandise.
The Trump Organization said at the time that Mr. Trump or his family “will not receive any royalty, licensing fee or financial consideration whatsoever” from the airport renaming. It characterized the applications as a move to protect the Trump name from being “infringed” on. It was unclear whether the Trump Organization would eventually sell any Trump-branded luggage or other merchandise on its own website.
Eric Trump, the president’s son who also runs the Trump Organization, thanked Mr. DeSantis and other Florida Republicans in a social media post on Monday.
“Palm Beach International Airport is now officially…. ‘President Donald J. Trump International Airport!’” he wrote. “Proud to have played a small role in making this happen.”
The Democratic leader in the State House, Representative Fentrice Driskell of Tampa, criticized Republicans for prioritizing the airport renaming over pocketbook issues. Democrats have said the renaming would cost local officials about $5 million.
“Your money is being misused to celebrate the man who caused gas prices to rise to over four dollars a gallon, grocery costs to shoot up, and health care prices to spike,” Ms. Driskell said in a statement. “Republicans are out of touch when it comes to the real issues impacting Floridians.”
Patricia Mazzei is the lead reporter for The Times in Miami, covering Florida and Puerto Rico.
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