Bozeman Airport Denies Trump's Plane Diversion Due to Unpaid Bills

Former President Donald Trump's plane was diverted to Billings, Montana, on August 9th, 2022, during a trip to Bozeman for a campaign rally. Viral social media posts claimed that the diversion was due to Trump's unpaid bills at the Bozeman airport. However, the airport has refuted these allegations, stating that there are no outstanding bills owed by Trump or his campaign, and the diversion was solely due to mechanical reasons.

Clearing the Air: Bozeman Airport Debunks Viral Claims

Mechanical Issue, Not Unpaid Bills

The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport has categorically denied the claims that Trump's plane was diverted due to unpaid bills. In an official statement, the airport said, "There are no outstanding bills owed [to] BZN by either Former President Trump or his campaign. The aircraft diverted due to mechanical reasons." This statement directly refutes the viral social media posts that suggested the diversion was a result of Trump's failure to pay the airport for previous rallies.

Gallatin County Confirms No Outstanding Balances

VERIFY, a fact-checking organization, reached out to Gallatin County officials, who oversee the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, and they confirmed that the Trump campaign does not have any outstanding bills. Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer stated, "Neither the campaigns nor the federal government pay for any of the services — local first responders provide for these visits. However, we have built-in contingencies in our budgets for events just like this."

A History of Hosting High-Profile Visits

Gallatin County has a long history of hosting high-profile political visits, including those by former President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Vice President Pence. The county has established protocols and budgetary contingencies to handle such events, ensuring that the costs are covered without relying on the campaigns or the federal government to pay for the services provided by local first responders.

The 2018 Bozeman Rally and Subsequent Payment

In 2018, Trump held a campaign rally at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. A 2019 investigation by the Center for Public Integrity found that the Gallatin Airport Authority, which operates the airport, sent the Trump campaign a ,355 invoice for labor, construction, and rental costs related to the rally. The Trump campaign paid the outstanding balance three months after its due date, on April 1, 2019.

Viral Claim Originated as a Joke

The initial social media post that claimed Trump's plane was diverted due to unpaid bills was later revealed to be a joke by the user who posted it. In a follow-up post, the user acknowledged that the original claim was not true, although they stated that it is "true that Trump has stiffed a couple of Montana cities" in the past.

Ongoing Investigations into Trump's Campaign Debts

While the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and Gallatin County have confirmed that the Trump campaign does not owe them any outstanding bills, a 2019 Center for Public Integrity investigation found that the Trump campaign may owe at least 10 other cities hundreds of thousands of dollars for various campaign-related expenses. The Trump campaign did not respond to VERIFY's request for comment on this matter.In conclusion, the claims that Trump's plane was diverted from Bozeman due to unpaid bills have been thoroughly debunked by the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and Gallatin County officials. The diversion was solely due to a mechanical issue, and the Trump campaign has no outstanding balances with the airport or the county. While the Trump campaign may owe money to other cities, the Bozeman airport and Gallatin County have confirmed that they have been fully paid for their services during the former president's visits.