There was a race to land at Palm Beach International Airport on Thursday morning, and Eric Trump made sure his family crossed the finish line first.
The airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport that day under Florida legislation, Governor Ron DeSantis signed back in March, with the FAA changing the location identifier from PBI to DJT.
Eric wasn’t about to leave the honor of the first landing to chance.
“There’s no way in hell I was letting UPS be the first plane to land,” he told Fox & Friends, explaining how the family boarded Trump Force One and touched down at exactly 5:01 a.m.
Lara Trump documented the arrival from inside the cockpit.
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Her video captured the pilot announcing, “Aircraft effective immediately Palm Beach International Airport is officially President Donald J. Trump International Airport.” Someone else could be heard saying, “Here we go. It’s official.”
Lara kept her caption short.
“It’s official!!! PBI > DJT.”
View this post on Instagram
The celebration had started well before the wheels touched the runway.
“I am deeply honored that at 5:01 a.m., Trump Force One will be the first plane to land at the newly renamed Palm Beach International Airport — now and forever President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” Eric wrote ahead of the flight.
He continued: “There is no person who has done more for Florida and our country, and no one more deserving of this incredible honor.”
I am deeply honored that at 5:01 a.m., Trump Force One will be the first plane to land at the newly renamed Palm Beach International Airport — now and forever President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT).
There is no person who has done more for Florida and our country,… pic.twitter.com/MlmYIwv2oZ
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 9, 2026
Speaking later to Fox News, Eric said he flies through the airport “nearly every day” and would “forever be proud to see the initials ‘DJT’ on my boarding pass.” He added, “I don’t think there’s anybody more synonymous with Palm Beach than Donald Trump in maybe all of Florida.”
The comments beneath Lara’s post, however, weren’t flying in quite the same direction.
“Why? Why does his name need to be on everything?” one person asked.
“Weirdest cult ever,” one commenter wrote.
Another suggested a different airport name altogether: “Should be Grifter In Chief Airport.”
One person skipped the naming debate entirely. “No one cares!!!!!!!! Make groceries affordable.”
Supporters weren’t far behind.
“Because he is trying desperately to make America great again. Everything should have his name on it,” one replied.
Another reached for precedent, pointing to other presidents with airports in their names: “have you ever heard of John F Kennedy Airport? GEORGE bush? And he is the best. Maybe if you did your own research and not follow trends you would realize.”
While the online argument kept rolling, airport officials offered a reminder of what the rename actually changes.
Palm Beach County still oversees operations, finances, and long-term planning, and officials said local property taxes are not paying for any part of the transition. Highway signs along Interstate 95 have already been replaced, while branding throughout the terminal will change gradually.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
