Trump's Debt To Boseman Airport: What's The Truth?

In August 2024, former US President Donald Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman, Montana, to Billings due to mechanical issues. This prompted speculation on social media that the diversion was due to unpaid dues at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. However, these claims were refuted by airport officials and the Trump campaign, who stated that the plane was redirected due to mechanical problems. While Trump does not owe money to the Bozeman airport, his campaign has been associated with unpaid bills in multiple US cities, including El Paso, Albuquerque, and Missoula County, Montana.

Trump's plane was diverted to Billings, Montana, due to mechanical issues

On August 9, 2024, former US President Donald Trump's plane was diverted to Billings, Montana, due to mechanical issues. The plane was originally scheduled to land at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, Montana, but was forced to change course.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung called the claims that the diversion was due to unpaid dues a "fake news". The Bozeman airport authorities also refuted the viral social media posts, stating that there were no outstanding bills owed by the former president or his campaign. Brian Sprenger, the airport CEO, said that the false narrative "began as satire and then went viral".

While Trump did not owe the Bozeman airport money, there were reports of his campaign owing money to several other cities. Missoula County, Montana, had invoiced the Trump campaign for $12,922.82 in 2018 for security and other costs related to his visits, which remained unpaid as of 2024. Additionally, a 2019 Center for Public Integrity investigation found that the Trump campaign may have unpaid bills in at least 10 cities, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Trump's diversion to Billings, Montana, was due to mechanical issues and not because of any outstanding dues owed to the Bozeman airport. However, the viral social media posts brought attention to the issue of the Trump campaign's unpaid bills in multiple US cities.

Social media posts claimed Trump couldn't land in Bozeman due to unpaid dues

On August 9, 2024, former US President Donald Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman, Montana, to Billings due to mechanical issues. Social media posts claimed that the diversion was due to Trump owing the Bozeman airport and city money from previous rallies. These claims were refuted by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport CEO Brian Sprenger, who stated that there were no outstanding bills owed by Trump or his campaign, and that the aircraft diversion was due to mechanical reasons. The original social media post was later revealed to be a joke by the user, who described themselves as "WA's self-appointed 11th District Representative".

Despite the satirical nature of the original post, it gained significant traction online, with VERIFY readers questioning the validity of the claims. A City of Bozeman spokesperson also confirmed that the Trump campaign did not owe the city any money. However, it is worth noting that Trump's campaign has been associated with unpaid bills in multiple US cities, including El Paso, Albuquerque, and at least four other cities, for costs related to rallies and campaign events.

While the diversion of Trump's plane to Billings can be attributed to mechanical issues, the viral social media posts highlight the public's interest in Trump's financial responsibilities during his campaign events. The posts also draw attention to the potential impact of unpaid dues on travel plans, even if, in this case, the claims were unfounded. It is important for social media users to verify the information they encounter and be cautious of satirical or misleading content.

Although the claim that Trump couldn't land in Bozeman due to unpaid dues was false, it sparked a conversation about the financial obligations of political campaigns and their impact on communities. It also serves as a reminder to fact-check information before sharing it online to prevent the spread of misinformation.

In conclusion, while Trump's plane diversion to Billings was due to mechanical issues, the incident brought to light the larger issue of unpaid campaign bills and the potential consequences they can have on communities across the country.

Bozeman airport officials denied the claim, stating there were no outstanding bills

In August 2024, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman, Montana, to Billings due to mechanical issues. This prompted speculation on social media that the diversion was due to unpaid dues at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

However, Bozeman airport officials denied these claims, stating that there were no outstanding bills owed by either Trump or his campaign. Brian Sprenger, president and CEO of the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, said in an email:

> "There are no outstanding bills owed BZN by either former President Trump or his campaign. The aircraft diverted due to mechanical reasons. It appears this [rumour] began as satire and then went viral."

Sprenger's statement was supported by a spokesperson for the airport, who confirmed that the Trump campaign did not owe them money. Additionally, Karoline Leavitt, National Press Secretary for the Trump campaign, told Reuters that the social media posts claiming unpaid dues were false.

While the claims regarding the Bozeman airport were false, there is evidence that the Trump campaign has unpaid bills in multiple other US cities. A 2019 Center for Public Integrity investigation found that the Trump campaign may owe at least 10 cities hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2018, Missoula County, Montana, invoiced the Trump campaign for $12,922.82 for security and other costs related to his visits. This invoice remains unpaid, according to County spokesperson Allison Franz.

Trump's campaign has unpaid bills in multiple US cities, including El Paso and Albuquerque

In August 2024, Donald Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman, Montana, to Billings due to a mechanical issue. This sparked claims on social media that the diversion was due to Trump owing the Bozeman airport and city money. However, these claims were refuted by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport CEO Brian Sprenger, who stated that there were no outstanding bills owed by Trump or his campaign.

While the claims about the Bozeman diversion were false, it was revealed that the Trump campaign does have unpaid bills in multiple US cities, including El Paso and Albuquerque. The campaign owes cities money for costs associated with rallies and campaign events over the years. In 2018, Missoula County, Montana, invoiced the Trump campaign for $12,922.82 for security and other costs related to his visits. This invoice remains unpaid, according to County spokesperson Allison Franz.

A 2019 Center for Public Integrity investigation found that the Trump campaign may owe at least 10 cities hundreds of thousands of dollars. The cities where Trump purportedly owes money include Tucson, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; El Paso, Texas; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, among others. The exact amounts owed to each city are unclear, but an MSNBC map graphic shared on social media listed the alleged amounts.

The Trump campaign's unpaid bills in multiple US cities, including El Paso and Albuquerque, highlight financial issues and raise questions about the campaign's financial management and responsibility. It is unclear if the campaign intends to settle these debts or if the cities will take any further action to recover the owed funds.

Missoula County, Montana, has invoiced the Trump campaign for $12,922.82 for security costs

In 2018, Missoula County, Montana, invoiced the Trump campaign for $12,922.82 for security and other costs related to his visits. Missoula County spokesperson Allison Franz has confirmed that the invoice is still unpaid. However, she clarified that the county had no involvement with Trump's visit to Bozeman, dispelling rumours that his plane was diverted to Billings due to unpaid dues at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

The rumours of Trump's unpaid dues in Bozeman began circulating in August 2024 when his plane was forced to land in Billings, Montana, instead of Bozeman due to mechanical issues. Social media posts falsely claimed that Trump couldn't land in Bozeman because he owed the airport over $12,000 in landing fees. These claims were refuted by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport CEO Brian Sprenger, who stated that there were no outstanding bills owed by either Trump or his campaign.

Sprenger attributed the false information to a satirical post by Twitter user @RepRichDangler, who claimed to be "WA's self-appointed 11th District Representative." The original poster also clarified that their initial claim was a joke, although they suggested that Trump had indeed stiffed a couple of Montana cities. Despite the satirical nature of the post, it went viral and was shared widely across social media platforms.

While the diversion of Trump's plane to Billings was due to mechanical issues and not financial reasons, it is worth noting that the Trump campaign has been associated with unpaid bills in multiple U.S. cities. A 2019 Center for Public Integrity investigation found that the Trump campaign may owe at least 10 cities hundreds of thousands of dollars. Cities with reported unpaid bills include El Paso, Albuquerque, Tucson, and Minneapolis, among others.

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