Florida Fliers Rage Against Trump International Airport

When word dropped that Palm Beach International Airport would change its name to honor President Donald Trump, some of the Florida facility’s frequent fliers had thoughts.

Angry thoughts.

Exasperated thoughts.

Violent thoughts.

“I will never fly in or out of this pathetic, ass-kissing airport again once you change the name to honor the most corrupt, incompetent, disastrous moron to ever hold the office,” a person identifying themselves as “Florida Native” wrote to airport officials on April 2.

“I will never again utilize PBI for any travel plans now that it is named for the orange headed clown,” another traveler wrote.

“If you actually change the name of this airport and honor that man, I will make it my mission in life to never, ever, EVER spend a penny at your airport,” a third promised.

One person, citing Trump, made a bomb threat — it’s unclear whether officials investigated — saying they had placed explosive devices within the airport and on an outbound plane. They demanded $30 million to not detonate them.

These comments are among dozens of missives sent by outraged patrons through Palm Beach International Airport’s website since March, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that renamed the facility “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.” The airport is situated about five miles from Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club and political redoubt, and the name change is slated to take effect July 1.

NOTUS obtained the airport’s website comments log through a Florida Public Records Act request.

Some of the commenters cursed.

“You bunch of spineless motherfuckers. Taxes aren’t to make Trump rich. That is corruption,” one person wrote on May 5, the day The New York Times published a story headlined, “To rename its airport after Trump, Palm Beach had to license his name.”

“Trump Airport…FUCK YOU. Should be Palm Bitch … once this asshole is gone…you will all look like fools,” another wrote May 7.

Some pleaded and puzzled.

“Please!!! Block this travesty.”

“PLEASE do NOT change the name of Palm Beach International Airport. The majority of citizens in Palm Beach County do not support a name change.”

“How [in] the world can a state name an airport after a CONVICTED FELON, A person who was found liable for sexual assault, a person who doesn’t really care about TRUE Amaericans.”

Others mocked.

“Good luck with business going forward. The fate of the Kennedy Center in DC should be instructive as to how well this may play out,” wrote “Angry Flyer” on March 31.A man named John congratulated the airport for being renamed after a felon. “You must be so proud!! USA!! USA!!” he wrote on May 7, punctuating his message with an American flag, heart and fist bump emoji.

At least 17 messages mentioned pedophilia in some form or fashion — not-so-oblique references to Trump’s onetime friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the dead financier and socialite who served prison time for soliciting a minor for prostitution and later faced more than 40 years in prison over charges related to sex trafficking minors. Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crime or criminal allegations against the convicted sex offender.

Several commenters encouraged Florida officials to perform sex acts on themselves.

Beyond simply venting, some commenters offered specific plans for how they would avoid a Florida airport honoring Trump.

“Naming an airport after a living American is fundamentally un-American. So it looks like it’s going to be Vero Beach or Orlando going forward for me.”

“I will fly to Fort Lauderdale instead … this is not a political move, but purely based on principle.”“I’ll drive an hour to Fort Lauderdale or two hours to Orlando to avoid traveling through anything with that vial [sic] thing’s name on it.”

“PLEASE do NOT change the name of Palm Beach International Airport. The majority of citizens in Palm Beach County do not support a name change,” one person said in a message to airport officials after the Trumpian name change was announced. Matt Rourke/AP

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is about 50 miles south of Palm Beach International Airport and is serviced by most major domestic airlines, including United, American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Allegiant and Frontier. Arlene Satchell, a Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport media official, declined to comment.

Miami International Airport, a major international gateway, is about 70 miles away.

Representatives for the White House and DeSantis did not respond to NOTUS’ requests for comment. Government officials for Palm Beach County, which owns and operates the airport, also did not respond to requests for comment, including a question about whether law enforcement investigated the bomb threat Palm Beach International Airport received through its website.

On its website, Palm Beach International Airport states that “while we recognize that the required name change may be received in different ways by our passengers, we’re grateful for your continued support through this transition period.”

It continues: “We remain committed to serving all passengers and ensuring a positive travel experience. While some things may evolve over time, our core focus remains the same: providing a safe, reliable and welcoming airport experience.”

Kathleen Joy, a spokesperson for the City of West Palm Beach, declined to comment on the airport’s name change and “any potential operational or economic impacts” from it, citing Palm Beach County’s status as owner and operator.

As for West Palm Beach itself, the city “remains focused on what we can control: continuing to make our community a great place to live, work, visit, and do business,” Joy said. “West Palm Beach continues to attract residents and visitors because of the strength of our economy, quality of life, and the unique amenities that make our community a destination.”

Nearly all the Trump-related comments Palm Beach International Airport received in March, April and the first half of May opposed or criticized the airport’s name change, according to the records NOTUS obtained.

These anti-Trump objections came as the president is attempting — sometimes successfully — to put his face or name on all manner of things: the Kennedy Center, government buildings, national parks, passports, money, savings accounts and a class of Navy warships.

But at least one person sensed a business opportunity at the soon-to-be Trump airport: A man identifying himself as a “premium domain consultant” named Paul inquired whether the airport might want to use the website domain pdjtia.com. “I would appreciate your feedback if this is of interest,” he wrote on April 7. (The domain name remains “for sale” as of this week.)

Jim Schiffler, a Florida business consultant, also wrote Palm Beach International Airport on April 28 with an offer: an eight-foot-tall, 5,000-pound granite statue of Trump.

“Would you consider placing it at the now Donald J. Trump International Airport? I will gladly send you pictures,” Schiffler wrote the airport.

“My desire is to move it to a prominent location, where it can be appreciated and acknowledge [Trump’s] accomplishments,” said a Florida man who’s offered to give the airport a Trump statue he’s owned since 2017. Courtesy of Jim Schiffler

Reached by NOTUS, Schiffler said he’s owned the statue since 2017 and that it’s located in North Dakota. He declined to say how much he paid for it.

“My desire is to move it to a prominent location, where it can be appreciated and acknowledge [Trump’s] accomplishments,” Schiffler said.

It appears, however, that the Trump statue is not destined for President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

“The airport commission replied with a ‘thank you, we are not interested at this time’,” Schiffler said.