Trump’s Plane Stays the Course: No Diversion Despite Debt to Bozeman Airport

Former President Donald Trump’s flight to Bozeman, Montana, on August 9 was diverted to Billings due to mechanical issues, rather than financial obligations to the airport, officials confirm.

This rally aimed to support Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy against Democratic Senator Jon Tester. Initial reports circulating on social media falsely claimed Trump’s diversion was linked to unpaid bills owed to the Bozeman airport.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport swiftly refuted these assertions in an August 11 statement. The airport clarified, “There are no outstanding bills owed by either former President Trump or his campaign. The aircraft diverted due to mechanical reasons.”

Brian Sprenger, the airport’s president and CEO, noted that these rumors gained traction after starting as satire. In addressing the false claims, he referenced a fact-checking article debunking the rumors.

The originator of the misleading social media post later admitted it was intended as a joke, albeit with a grain of truth about Trump’s history with payments to some Montana cities. Recent investigations highlighted past financial issues stemming from Trump’s 2018 campaign rallies in Montana, including a substantial invoice from the Gallatin Airport Authority for costs incurred during those events.

While the 2019 Center for Public Integrity report revealed that the Trump campaign had overdue payments to various municipalities, local officials, including those from Gallatin County, confirmed that there are currently no outstanding bills involving Trump’s campaign. Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer emphasized that local services for such visits are contingent on budgetary provisions, and not directly billed to the campaigns.

The claims of unresolved payments have been a point of concern for many, including VERIFY readers, prompting investigations into the matter. Nonetheless, both Bozeman and the Gallatin County authorities assure the absence of any debts linked to Trump’s recent visit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.