A new agreement granting President Donald Trump control over licensing and merchandising at a renamed Florida airport has opened a fresh revenue stream for his family, analysts say. The deal, approved by Palm Beach county commissioners on Tuesday, renames the former Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J Trump International Airport, located less than five miles from his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Under the contract, Trump’s company, DTTM Operations LLC, overseen by his son Donald Trump Jr, gains trademark and commercial rights to the airport’s new name. While the agreement prohibits direct financial compensation from goods sold at the airport, analysts predict Trump could net millions through other avenues. He can choose which vendors produce branded merchandise, profit from sales away from the airport—including on his online store—and license the trademark to third parties.
Trump also retains final approval over how his name, image and likeness are used at the airport, limiting the county’s editorial discretion. Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney not involved in the deal, called several elements “unusual”, noting that typically honorary naming agreements do not grant such extensive control. “The questions the public should ask here are why Trump’s board needs that level of control, and are they going to be directing funds to somebody?” he said.
The process began in February when Trump’s lawyers filed trademark applications, parallel to Florida’s Republican-led legislature advancing legislation to mandate the name change by 1 July. Critics condemned the move as a “misguided” act of fealty to Trump by Governor Ron DeSantis, citing a lack of consultation with residents. The commission vote was narrow, with bipartisan support for the deal.
