Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that he flew on a private jet previously owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The incident occurred when Trump’s usual aircraft experienced mechanical issues, forcing the campaign to charter an alternative plane without knowledge of its controversial history.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s campaign chartered a jet previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein due to mechanical issues with his usual plane.
- The campaign claims it was unaware of the jet’s history when it was chartered.
- The jet was used for a brief period to attend campaign events in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
- The incident has reignited public scrutiny over Trump’s past associations with Epstein.
Mechanical Issues Lead to Charter
On August 9, 2024, Trump’s private Boeing 757, known as “Trump Force One,” encountered mechanical problems while en route to a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana. The plane was forced to land in Billings, Montana, approximately two hours away by car. To continue his campaign schedule, Trump’s team chartered a smaller Gulfstream jet.
Unaware of Jet’s History
The Gulfstream jet, now owned by Threshold Aviation Group, was previously registered to Epstein’s company, Plan D LLC. The Trump campaign stated that they had no prior knowledge of the jet’s history and only learned about it through media reports. A campaign spokesperson emphasized that the charter was arranged through a vendor frequently used by the campaign.
Brief Use of the Jet
Trump used the Gulfstream jet to travel from Montana to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then to Aspen, Colorado, for campaign fundraisers. The jet was adorned with a “Trump 2024” decal for the trip. After the events, Trump’s usual plane was repaired, and he resumed using it for his travels.
Public Scrutiny and Past Associations
The revelation has reignited public scrutiny over Trump’s past associations with Epstein. Although Trump and Epstein were known to be in the same social circles in the 1990s, there is no evidence linking Trump to Epstein’s criminal activities. The two reportedly had a falling out in 2004 over a real estate dispute.
Campaign’s Response
In response to the incident, the Trump campaign has instructed the charter company to avoid using any aircraft with controversial histories in the future. The campaign also reiterated that they had no awareness of the jet’s previous ownership and that it was a routine charter arranged due to unforeseen mechanical issues.
Conclusion
While the use of Epstein’s former jet was unintentional, the incident has added another layer of controversy to Trump’s campaign. The campaign’s quick response and clarification may help mitigate some of the backlash, but the public’s interest in Trump’s past associations with Epstein is likely to persist.
Sources
- Trump Flew to Campaign Events on Private Jet Formerly Owned by Jeffrey Epstein? | Snopes.com, Snopes.
- Jeffrey Epstein’s old jet gets new life in Trump campaign | Miami Herald, Miami Herald.
- Donald Trump Flew In Jeffrey Epstein’s Private Plane To Fundraisers, OK Magazine.
- Donald Trump is using Jeffrey Epstein’s old jet to fly to campaign events | The Independent, The Independent.
- Trump’s campaign admits ex-prez rented private jet previously owned by Epstein – Hindustan Times, Hindustan Times.