One of President Donald Trump’s “most grandiose vanity projects” – the rebranding of the Palm Beach International Airport to the President Donald J. Trump International Airport – has already hit a major snag as Palm Beach County officials refuse to foot the bill for the airport’s transformation, the Guardian reported Sunday.
Earlier this month, the airport was officially renamed in Trump’s honor, with highway signs erected to reflect the airport’s rebranding. The rebranding was initiated by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, who in March signed a bill to rename the airport, a change that was later approved by the Palm Beach County Commission with a vote of 4-3.
However, while the airport’s rebranding “appears to be complete” from the outside, a different picture is seen inside the terminals, the Guardian reported.
“Inside the terminals, at the ticket counters and baggage halls, the change is far less noticeable,” The Guardian’s report reads. “Digital signage reflects the switch, but many physical signs and infrastructure still refer to its old name of Palm Beach International (PBI).”
In Florida’s $117 billion state budget, $2.75 million was included to fund the airport’s rebranding, with the remaining $2.75 million expected to be covered by Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County Commission members, however, appear disinterested in footing the bill.
“Palm Beach county is refusing to make up the shortfall, with some commissioners insisting taxpayers cannot and should not be left on the hook,” The Guardian’s report reads.
Among those Palm Beach officials is Joseph Abruzzo, the county administrator, who instead insisted that the remaining $2.75 million come from the state.
“We will be able to make the baseline, necessary changes to signage with the $2,750,000. But for the full extensive signage, we will be needing the other half of those funds from the state,” Abruzzo told the Miami Herald.