Trumps celebrate the new Donald J. Trump airport with inaugural flight

• The Palm Beach International Airport was officially renamed the President Donald J. Trump International Airport.
• 'Trump Force One' took the first flight out of the airport under its new name.
• The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, toured the Trump plane.

WEST PALM BEACH - The Trump private plane was the first to land at the Palm Beach, Florida airport, now named the President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

While new signage in the area has already reflected the change, July 9 marks the official day the new name is in effect. The legislation prompting the name change, signed earlier this year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, drew controversy and lawsuits. But the argument can be made that President Donald Trump put a national spotlight on and raised widespread awareness of the former Palm Beach International Airport. 

Passengers on the Trump plane dubbed "Trump Force One" were celebrating after it touched down shortly after 5 a.m., clapping and embracing as they stepped onto the tarmac. Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and his new wife Bettina Trump, formerly Anderson, gathered with other local officials who took the inaugural ride out of the airport.

The United Parcel Service is usually the first each day, Eric Trump told The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network. But it was important to him that the president's private plane be "the first wheels to touch down."

“This particularly means a lot to me,” Republican Florida State Rep. Kim Kendall said. She arrived at the airport Thursday morning in a red shirt and gold necklace with an airplane pendant. 

Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter said participating in the 30-minute flight was like “touching a piece of history.” Was there an in-flight meal? No, she said. But she and her fellow passengers did clap when the plane touched down.

“It was a lot of fun,” she said after. 

County Commissioner Maria Marino said she woke at 3 a.m. to make it onto Thursday’s flight. Asked whether she had a window seat or an aisle one, Marino said she sat on a sofa. 

“It was wonderful. Just impressive to be the first out and the first in,” she said. “No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, this is a historic moment."

As others began to disperse, Eric Trump returned to the plane. Inside, he said he first flew through the airport as an infant in 1984, and that his family flew in and out nearly every weekend in the years after his father bought Mar-a-Lago the following year.

"There's probably no one that's flown into this airport more times than Donald Trump," Eric Trump told The Post. “I think he deserves this honor.”

As president, Trump has made more than 60 trips to Palm Beach over his two non-consecutive terms. His airport arrivals and departures on those trips, especially early in his first administration, drew media attention and coverage. National outlets covered Air Force One's landings and take-offs, putting the airport in front of millions of viewers.

Hannah Phillips covers criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at [email protected]. Help support our journalism and subscribe today.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky and TikTok.