Rep. Meg Weinberger’s bill to rename the Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport is airborne, with its destination likely to be a floor vote if the rousing reception in the Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee is any indication.
Weinberger, a West Palm Beach Republican, says the renaming honors “leadership and legacy” and is for good reason, as Palm Beach “is the home of the President” and the airport is “just down the street from where he lives.”
“He’s a two-term President. It will happen in his lifetime. Why not honor him while he’s the President in his hometown? And this is the first President that we’ve had in Florida,” Weinberger said.
HB 919 otherwise preempts medium and large airport names to the state, and keeps all other current names the same.
And the renaming of Palm Beach International would be contingent on approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and on an agreement between Palm Beach County and Donald Trump for the commercial usage of his name.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, was curious about the preemption, leading Weinberger to say it was the “appropriate” role of the state to handle airport names.
Eskamani also asked about merchandise sold, and Weinberger confirmed the airport would draw revenue in the event that swag moved.
Ultimately, Eskamani said she couldn’t back the bill, saying it’s premature to honor a politician while they are in office, and that the Trump name could discourage travelers from going to PBI.
SB 706, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Mayfield, is the companion bill. Both measures have two stops to go before consideration by their respective legislative bodies.
As was the case in the Senate committee that considered the bill Tuesday, Palm Beach County representatives showed up to confirm their support for the measure.
