The Donald Trump family company has filed for exclusive rights to use the sitting US president’s name across airports and a dozen of related services and products, according to the Associated Press. The Trump Organization, led by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, said the filings were not about making money but about guarding the family name against ‘bad actors’.
In documents submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office, it argued that the Trump name is often misused as his name is the “most infringed trademark in the world.”
The family’s DTTM Operations unit has asked the US Patent and Trademark Office for exclusive rights to use three versions of the name — President Donald J. Trump International Airport, Donald J. Trump International Airport and DJT — across airports and many related services and items, from passenger shuttle buses to travel bags, umbrellas and even flight suits.
The company said it does not intend to earn revenue from any airport that may adopt the Trump name, including a proposal in Florida to rename Palm Beach International Airport, located near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
“To be clear, the President and his family will not receive any royalty, licencing fee, or financial consideration whatsoever from the proposed airport renaming,” the company said in a statement.
TRUMP DENIES ROLE IN RENAMING PUSH
The trademark push comes amid reports that Trump has sought to rename New York’s Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport after him. Reports claimed Trump floated renaming both sites in return for releasing $16bn for the project — an idea Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected.
Trump later said he had not raised the naming issue, writing on social media that it came from “certain politicians and construction union heads,” while Schumer also denied it was his suggestion.
Traditionally, US Presidents wait years after leaving office — or until after death — before airports or major landmarks are named in their honour. Bill Clinton’s airport naming came 11 years after his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s after nine and Gerald Ford’s after 22. John F. Kennedy’s happened just a month after his assassination.
The airport trademark push is a part of expansion of Trump branding. Over the past year, the family business has licensed the Trump name to developments in Dubai, India, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, and launched branded products including electric guitars, bibles and sneakers.
With inputs from agencies
