Trump's Airport Fees: Who Does He Owe?

There have been many speculations about former President Donald Trump's financial entanglements with various organizations and countries. While there is no evidence that Trump owes money to Russia, it is known that he has borrowed from government-dominated Chinese banks and has financial ties to Russian billionaires. In 2016, Trump's organization was reported to have at least $650 million in debt, with lenders including the Bank of China. Trump has also had financial dealings with airports, such as the establishment of Trump Shuttle in 1989, which operated between New York City and East Hampton Airport. In 2024, there were rumors that Trump's plane was unable to land in Bozeman due to unpaid dues at the airport, but these claims were refuted by his campaign and the airport CEO.

Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman due to mechanical issues, not unpaid dues

On August 9, 2024, former President Donald Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman, Montana, due to mechanical issues. The aircraft landed safely at Billings Logan International Airport, located about 140 miles east of Bozeman. Despite this, social media posts circulated an alternate narrative, claiming that the plane was unable to land in Bozeman due to Trump's unpaid dues at the airport, specifically owing over $12,000 in landing fees.

However, these claims were refuted by Karoline Leavitt, National Press Secretary for the Trump campaign, who stated that the diversion was solely due to a mechanical issue. This was further corroborated by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport CEO Brian Sprenger, who denied the existence of any outstanding bills owed by Trump or his campaign. Sprenger attributed the false information to a joke originally posted by the Twitter account @RepRichDangler, a self-described "WA's self-appointed 11th District Representative."

The incident highlights the potential for misinformation to spread on social media, as the original post gained traction and was shared widely. It also underscores the importance of fact-checking and official sources in dispelling false narratives. While the specific mechanical issue remains undisclosed by Trump's campaign, both airport staff and law enforcement sources confirmed the existence of a mechanical problem, reinforcing the conclusion that the diversion was a result of mechanical issues and not unpaid dues.

This event serves as a reminder to approach information circulated on social media with caution and to rely on trusted sources for accurate information, particularly regarding newsworthy events involving prominent figures like Trump. It is crucial to verify the facts before accepting or spreading information, as false narratives can quickly gain traction and cause confusion or mislead the public.

Trump's financial ties with Russia and China have been a cause for concern

There is no evidence to suggest that Trump owes money to airports, with his campaign denying claims that he owed money to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. However, Trump's financial ties with Russia and China have been a significant cause for concern.

Trump has a long history of attempting to establish himself in the Russian real estate market, dating back to 1986 when he discussed building a luxury hotel near the Kremlin in partnership with the Soviet government. In the 1990s, Trump announced plans to invest in Russian real estate, and his son, Donald Trump Jr., confirmed in 2008 that Russians made up a significant portion of their assets. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, admitted to lying to Congress about the Trump Organization's efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 election campaign. These actions indicate a clear interest in conducting business and establishing financial ties with Russia.

Trump's financial dealings with China have also raised concerns. American companies owned by Trump have accumulated at least $650 million in debt, with the Bank of China among the lenders. This has led to questions about potential conflicts of interest, especially in the case of Elon Musk, who has business interests in China and serves as a senior adviser to Trump.

Trump's businesses have incurred debts of hundreds of millions of dollars

In 1988, Trump established Trump Air, which operated a scheduled helicopter service between LaGuardia Airport and the Wall Street Heliport. It also flew between New York City and East Hampton Airport from 1989 to 1992, and between Manhattan's West 30th Street Heliport and Steeplechase Pier in Atlantic City to serve Trump's casinos. The helicopters could carry 24 passengers each and fares ranged from $49 to $125.

Trump Shuttle, another one of Trump's aviation businesses, was launched in June 1989 after Trump reached an agreement with Eastern Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October 1988. The deal was financed through a loan from a syndicate of banks led by Citibank. Despite a strong start, with a market share of 40-50% by the end of August 1989, the company was never profitable.

Trump Shuttle incurred high costs due to its luxury offerings, such as complimentary meals and champagne, as well as its adoption of advanced technologies. In August 1989, a Trump Shuttle flight arriving in Boston experienced a nose gear failure upon landing due to maintenance errors by Eastern personnel prior to the acquisition. Trump personally flew on the next Trump Shuttle flight to Boston to manage the public reaction to the incident.

By late 1989, the Northeastern United States entered an economic recession, causing a decline in passenger traffic and an increase in jet fuel prices. Trump's casino business also faced serious difficulties during this time. As a result, Trump was forced to cede control over several business holdings to his bankers in June 1990 to avoid personal bankruptcy. The airline defaulted on its debt in September 1990 and conducted charter operations to monetize its spare aircraft.

While there were claims on social media that Trump owed over $12,000 in landing fees to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, these were refuted by both the Trump campaign and the airport CEO, who stated that there were no outstanding bills and that the plane diversion was due to mechanical issues.

Trump Shuttle, a luxury shuttle service, was never profitable and defaulted on debt

In 1988, Donald Trump acquired three Sikorsky S-61 helicopters that were previously owned by Resorts International Airlines (RIA). The helicopters were used to shuttle high-rollers to the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The aircraft were repainted black and red and featured the Trump Air logo.

In the same year, Trump met Eastern Air Lines president Frank Lorenzo at a party, and subsequently negotiated the purchase of the airline's east coast shuttle services for $365 million. The deal included 17 Boeing 727s, landing rights, and access to airport infrastructure in three cities: New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The first flight of the newly branded Trump Shuttle took place on June 8, 1989, from Washington, D.C. to Boston.

Trump aimed to transform the shuttle into a luxury airline, adding features such as leather seats, thick carpets, chrome buckles, maple wood veneer, hot meals, free drinks, full-length mirrors, and faux-marble basins in the lavatories. However, these additions proved costly and challenging for flight operations. Despite the upgrades, the Trump Shuttle struggled financially and defaulted on a $1.1 million debt payment just 14 months after its first flight.

By mid-1992, the Trump Shuttle ceased to exist. It was rebranded, purchased by US Airways, and eventually absorbed into American Airlines. Trump was able to negotiate with Citibank to relieve him of personal liability for a significant portion of the shuttle's debt.

Trump Air operated helicopter services between New York and Atlantic City to serve his casinos

While there is no direct evidence that Trump owes money to airports, there is a record of him owing money to airports in the past. In 1990, Trump's airline, Trump Shuttle, ran out of cash and defaulted on its debt. The airline was never profitable, and passenger traffic began to decline in November 1989, a year after its launch.

On October 11, 1989, a tragic helicopter crash in New York killed Mark G. Etess, the president of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City. This event shook Atlantic City, and the Tour de Trump bicycle race, patterned after the Tour de France, was renamed the Tour DuPont after Etess, who had proposed the idea for the race.

Trump Shuttle, Inc. was an airline owned by Donald Trump from 1989 to 1992. The airline operated hourly flights on Boeing 727 aircraft between New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Trump purchased the landing rights and assets necessary to operate these flights from Eastern Air Lines for $365 million, a price justified by the potential for a high market share. Despite this investment, the airline struggled financially, particularly during the economic recession in the Northeastern United States that began in late 1989.

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