Trump's Montana Airport Debt: Who Gets Paid?

Former US President Donald Trump's campaign rallies have often been a source of contention for city governments, with Trump's campaign owing various cities at least $841,219 in public safety costs. In one instance, the Gallatin Airport Authority in Montana, which administers the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, sent the Trump campaign an invoice for $17,355 for labor, construction, and rental costs. Trump eventually paid this invoice, but it was three months past the due date. This incident raises questions about the financial burden placed on cities hosting Trump's rallies and whether the Trump campaign should be held accountable for these expenses.

Trump's campaign has the funds to pay cities' police bills

The Trump campaign has the funds to pay cities' police bills, but it has a history of failing to do so. As of March 31, federal records indicated that the campaign had nearly $40.8 million in cash. This is more than enough to cover the $841,219 that city governments claim the campaign owes them.

The Trump campaign has a history of not paying city facility contracts on time or in full. For example, the Gallatin Airport Authority in Montana sent the Trump campaign an invoice for $17,355 for labor, construction, and rental costs. The invoice was paid three months after its due date. In another instance, the Trump campaign has yet to pay for public safety costs from a 2016 rally in Tucson, Arizona, despite a signed contract.

The cities are adamant that the Trump campaign should pay up, but in many cases, there are no signed contracts between the municipal governments and the campaign. The cities dispatched police officers to secure Trump's events because they believed it was necessary for public safety, and the US Secret Service requested it.

The fiscal impact on local governments during campaign seasons can be significant, and it is not unreasonable to expect some reimbursement from political campaigns for the demands on public safety resources.

The Trump campaign owes money to multiple cities

In one instance, the Gallatin Airport Authority in Montana sent the Trump campaign an invoice for $17,355 for labor, construction, and rental costs. Trump eventually paid, but three months after the due date. The Trump campaign has also failed to pay public safety costs for a 2016 rally in Tucson, Arizona, despite a signed contract.

Other cities with outstanding bills from the Trump campaign include Green Bay and Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Burlington, Vermont; and Spokane, Washington. These bills date back to 2016, before Trump became president. While some cities remain hopeful that the campaign will pay, others are less optimistic. The Trump campaign's refusal to pay these bills has a significant fiscal impact on local governments, especially during campaign seasons.

The Gallatin Airport Authority sent Trump an invoice for $17,335

On November 3, 2018, Donald Trump's campaign rally was held at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, administered by the Gallatin Airport Authority in Montana. The airport authority sent the Trump campaign an invoice for $17,335 to cover labor, construction, and rental costs. Trump's campaign paid the invoice three months after its due date, on April 1, 2019.

The Gallatin Airport Authority in Montana manages the operations and maintenance of the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. The airport serves as a gateway to the renowned Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas, offering both commercial and general aviation services. It is a busy airport, especially during tourist seasons, as it provides convenient access to one of the country's most popular national parks.

On November 3, 2018, the airport hosted a campaign rally for then-President Donald Trump. Such rallies require significant logistical preparation and resources, including ensuring adequate security measures and managing the large influx of attendees. The Gallatin Airport Authority incurred additional costs to accommodate the rally, and as a result, they sent an invoice to the Trump campaign for reimbursement.

The invoice totaled $17,335 and covered various expenses. These included labor costs, such as overtime for airport staff and additional personnel to manage the event. Construction costs were also included in the invoice, which could have been for temporary structures or modifications to the airport facilities to accommodate the rally. Lastly, rental costs were factored in, which may have been for equipment or space utilized exclusively for the campaign event.

The Gallatin Airport Authority's invoice was sent promptly to the Trump campaign, expecting timely reimbursement for the expenses incurred. However, the payment was not received until three months after the due date. On April 1, 2019, the Gallatin Airport Authority finally received payment from the Trump campaign, as evidenced by a canceled campaign check. While the invoice amount was eventually paid, the delay caused some uncertainty and may have impacted the airport authority's financial planning and operations.

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

Former US President Donald Trump's plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Billings, Montana, on Friday, August 9, 2024. The diversion was due to a mechanical issue with the aircraft as it was en route to Bozeman, Montana, for a rally. According to Jenny Mockel, the administrative assistant at Billings Logan International Airport, Trump's plane touched down in Billings around 2:29 pm, 142 miles east of its original destination.

Trump's Boeing 757 aircraft experienced a technical malfunction, necessitating the unscheduled stop in Billings. The specific nature of the mechanical issue has not been disclosed, but it was significant enough to warrant a diversion to the nearest suitable airport. Billings Airport confirmed the diversion, stating that Trump's plane landed safely thanks to the swift action of the pilots and air traffic control.

The former president and his team handled the unexpected landing with discretion. While Trump posted a video upon landing, expressing his delight at being in Montana, he notably omitted any mention of the mechanical issue or the diversion. This discretion may have been to avoid causing alarm among supporters or creating negative headlines.

After the unscheduled landing in Billings, Trump boarded a private jet to complete his journey to Bozeman. Before the departure, the Secret Service conducted a comprehensive sweep of the airport and the private plane as a standard security protocol. Trump's campaign rally in Bozeman went ahead as scheduled, with the former president addressing supporters at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University.

While Trump's plane diversion to Billings was a minor incident, it shed light on the challenges of political campaigns and the importance of aircraft safety. Despite the mechanical issue, Trump's team demonstrated adaptability by arranging alternative travel arrangements, ensuring the former president's safe arrival in Bozeman for the rally.

Trump's visit to Montana was to oust the state's Democratic senator

Former President Donald Trump's visit to Montana in August 2024 was part of a bid to oust the state's Democratic senator, Jon Tester. Trump's plane was en route to Bozeman, Montana, when it was diverted to Billings 142 miles to the east, due to a mechanical issue. Trump had to take a private jet to complete the journey to Bozeman, where he held a rally at Montana State University.

Trump's visit to the state was aimed at remedying some "unfinished business" from 2018, when he campaigned in Montana, also known as Big Sky Country, in an attempt to unseat Tester. Tester has been a prolific fundraiser and has won his previous Senate contests by a narrow margin. He has positioned himself as a plain-speaking farmer who builds personal connections with people in Montana and is willing to break with his party on certain issues.

Trump's drive to oust Tester stems from the senator's work in 2018 as chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Tester revealed misconduct by Trump's personal physician, Ronny Jackson, which led to the sinking of Jackson's nomination to lead the Veterans Affairs Department. At the rally, Trump invited Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson to the stage to slam Tester, whom he called a "'slob' and criticised for his weight.

Trump's visit to Montana was part of his strategy to help Republican senators and congressmen get elected. He also planned to make fundraising stops in Wyoming and Colorado. The former president's presence on the ballot in November could benefit Tester's opponent, Republican newcomer Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL who has tried to link Tester to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

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