Trump Family Business Pursues Trademark Rights for Airport Names
The Trump Organization has submitted formal applications to secure trademark rights for the use of the president's name on airports and a wide range of associated products and services. This move, described by legal experts as unprecedented, comes amid ongoing discussions about renaming facilities in Florida and other states.
Protection Against "Bad Actors"
According to company statements, the trademark filings were prompted by legislative efforts in Florida to rename Palm Beach International Airport after President Trump. The organization emphasized that these applications are defensive measures rather than profit-seeking ventures.
"The President and his family will not receive any royalty, licensing fee, or financial consideration whatsoever from the proposed airport renaming," the Trump Organization declared, specifically referencing the Palm Beach facility located near Trump's Mar-a-Lago club.
The company characterized its actions as necessary protection against "bad actors," asserting that the Trump name represents "the most infringed trademark in the world." When questioned about potential future royalties for other airports or merchandise, the organization did not provide immediate clarification.
Unprecedented Legal Territory
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who discovered the filings over the weekend, expressed astonishment at their nature and scope. "While presidents and public officials have had landmarks named in their honor, a sitting president's private company has never in the history of the United States sought trademark rights in advance of such naming," Gerben noted in his analysis.
The applications, submitted through the DTTM Operations unit to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, cover three distinct naming variations:
- President Donald J. Trump International Airport
- Donald J. Trump International Airport
- DJT
Beyond airport names themselves, the filings seek protection for numerous related items including passenger shuttle buses, umbrellas, travel bags, and even flight suits.
Broader Branding Context
This trademark initiative occurs within a larger pattern of aggressive branding expansion by the Trump family business. Over the past year, the organization has attached the Trump name to various international projects including:
- Towers and residential developments in Dubai and India
- Golf resorts in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam
- Consumer products like electric guitars, bibles, and sneakers
These ventures, like the airport trademark applications, fall under the purview of the DTTM Operations unit. The company's branding activities have drawn criticism regarding potential conflicts of interest, though President Trump has maintained that his sons manage the business through a trust arrangement and that he has no daily involvement in operations.
Political and Infrastructure Implications
The trademark filings intersect with several ongoing political discussions about infrastructure naming. In Florida, state legislators are considering a bill that would officially rename Palm Beach International Airport after the president. Simultaneously, funding debates surrounding a New York-New Jersey tunnel project have become entangled with proposals to attach Trump's name to both that infrastructure and Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Legal observers continue to analyze the implications of these trademark applications, which represent a novel intersection of presidential recognition, private business interests, and intellectual property law. The outcome could establish important precedents for how public figures' names are commercially protected when associated with public infrastructure projects.
