A Democratic congressional candidate has filed a lawsuit to block the renaming of Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump. Victoria Doyle, who is standing in Florida's 23rd Congressional District, lodged her complaint in a county courthouse, arguing the move is unconstitutional.
In March, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation authorising the state to rename seven major airports, including PBI, which will be rebranded as 'President Donald J. Trump International Airport'. The president regularly travels through the airport on weekends to his nearby Mar-a-Lago estate. The rebranding and related upgrades are expected to cost around $5.5 million.
Doyle's suit seeks an injunction to halt county officials from proceeding until a separate lawsuit, filed in April by pilot George W. Poncy Jr., is resolved. Poncy's case argues the name change could create safety risks and confusion for pilots and air traffic controllers. Doyle stated, 'I don't want the county to spend any taxpayer money on renaming the airport until the merits of Mr Poncy's lawsuit are decided.'
Doyle, a trademark attorney who bought a home in Palm Beach in 2015, left her law practice in April 2025 to run for office. While Republicans have praised the renaming as 'historic recognition', Democrats have criticised it as a waste of taxpayers' money. Trump himself has lauded the change, promising substantial additions.
