(AP) — The Trump Organization has applied for federal trademark protection covering the use of President Donald Trump’s name on airports and a wide range of related services and merchandise, a move the company says is intended to safeguard its brand rather than generate profit.
Records filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that a Trump family business entity, DTTM Operations, submitted applications seeking exclusive rights to three variations of the president’s name for airport-related use: “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” “Donald J. Trump International Airport,” and “DJT.”
The filings extend beyond the naming of airport facilities themselves, encompassing transportation services such as passenger shuttle buses as well as retail items and travel accessories commonly associated with airports, including umbrellas, travel bags and flight suits.
The applications surfaced as Florida lawmakers debate a proposal to rename Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump. The airport is located near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. Separate discussions involving infrastructure projects in the Northeast and proposals connected to Dulles International Airport in Virginia have also included suggestions that Trump’s name be attached to public facilities.
In a statement, the Trump Organization indicated that the trademark applications were prompted by the Florida legislation and emphasized that no financial benefit is anticipated from the proposed renaming of the Palm Beach airport.
“To be clear, the President and his family will not receive any royalty, licensing fee, or financial consideration whatsoever from the proposed airport renaming,” the company said.
The organization described the filings as a protective measure, arguing that the Trump name is “the most infringed trademark in the world” and asserting that the move is designed to prevent unauthorized or misleading uses of the brand by third parties.
Company representatives did not immediately clarify whether royalties or licensing fees could be pursued if other airports were to adopt the president’s name or if the trademarks were applied to commercial merchandise referenced in the filings.
Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney who first identified the applications, characterized them as highly unusual. Writing on his blog, Gerben noted that while public buildings and landmarks have often been named in honor of presidents and other officials, he was unaware of any instance in which a sitting president’s private company sought trademark rights in anticipation of such naming.
“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 wrote, describing the filings as unprecedented.
The filings are the latest example of the Trump family’s broader branding efforts over the past year. The company has expanded the use of the Trump name across international real estate ventures, including towers, golf resorts and residential developments in the Middle East and Asia. It has also marketed branded consumer products such as electric guitars, Bibles and sneakers through DTTM Operations, the same entity listed in the airport-related trademark applications.
President Donald Trump has previously addressed concerns that his business interests could intersect with his public office, stating that his company is held in trust and managed by his sons. He has maintained that he does not oversee day-to-day operations.
Ethics experts say the airport trademark filings could intensify debate over the relationship between private branding and public institutions. Although trademark registration does not automatically confer naming rights to public infrastructure, it grants legal standing to prevent others from using protected terms in specified commercial categories.
Legal scholars note that federal trademark law allows individuals and companies to register names associated with living persons, provided certain consent requirements are met. Because the applications were filed by a company affiliated with President Donald Trump, issues of consent are unlikely to arise. The more complex questions, they say, involve public policy and optics rather than statutory eligibility.
If granted, the trademarks would enable the Trump Organization to challenge unauthorized commercial uses of the specified airport names in areas covered by the registrations. That protection could apply to marketing materials, branded merchandise, transportation services or other commercial activities linked to airport operations.
Whether any airport will ultimately adopt the president’s name remains uncertain. Renaming public facilities typically requires legislative approval at the state or federal level and may involve local authorities, aviation regulators and, in some cases, voter input.
Supporters of renaming efforts argue that presidents are often honored through infrastructure projects, highways and federal buildings. Critics contend that formalizing trademark protections while a president is still in office introduces new complexities, particularly when a private company is positioned to control commercial aspects tied to the name.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will review the applications to determine whether they meet statutory requirements, including distinctiveness and potential conflicts with existing registrations. The process can take several months and may involve requests for clarification or opposition from third parties.
For now, the filings underscore the intersection of politics, branding and intellectual property law during President Donald Trump’s time in office. While the Trump Organization frames the move as a defensive step aimed at brand protection, legal observers say its novelty ensures that it will draw scrutiny as the review process unfolds.
