CNN and Josh Gerben Discuss the Trump Airport Trademark Filings

As the Florida legislature discusses renaming the Palm Beach International Airport after Donald Trump, the Trump Organization has filed trademarks to protect his name for an airport. This has raised concerns that the Trump family is trying to profit off of the honor.

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben discusses the unusual trademark filings with CNN.

Previous hubs named for leaders like Ronald Reagan, JFK, or Bill Clinton have not been protected with trademark filings made by the former presidents or their families, Josh Gerben told CNN.

For example, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority owns the trademark for the Reagan National Airport.

“Normally, the private individual who’s being honored isn’t protecting his or her name as a trademark,” Gerben said.

Plus, the trademark applications also cover a large list of goods and services, such as jewelry, clothing, restaurants, and more. “From a legal perspective, the attorney that drafted these did a really good job,” Gerben said. “There could be a whole market at the airport, or even off the airport premises. And again, Trump Org would own the trademark and be able to license that name to anybody that was making and selling that merchandise.”

There could be other reasons for protecting a name other than the potential to profit from licensing fees, Gerben noted. Trademarks also help prevent infringement on third-party platforms and are used to set quality standards in connection with the brand.

Source: Maher, Kit. https://www.cnn.com. “Trump Organization trademark raises suspicions that family could profit from Florida airport name change”. 18 February 2026.