A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight filmed Donald Trump, Jr. and a woman in a bright red pantsuit exiting a black SUV multiple people who look to include secret service, walking on the ramp with rollaboard bags, and going up stairs under the jetbridge to board the aircraft. It appears that the woman is Bettina Anderson, to whom Don, Jr. was recently engaged.
UH… IS THAT DONALD TRUMP JR. ON MY SOUTHWEST FLIGHT?!
A woman films in disbelief after spotting Don Jr. at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – pulling up in blacked-out SUVs and escorted by a visible security detail before walking up the private stairs directly onto… pic.twitter.com/wby2P8g3Gn
— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) December 24, 2025
Trump, Jr. is part of the President’s immediate family, which is within the category the Secret Service regularly protects. It seems to me that having a protectee airside in an airport should be fine since everyone there has been screened! And it it’s not fine, then there’s a problem with TSA that the President should be making a priority.
Nonetheless, it’s not uncommon for someone in this situation to be moved across the tarmac by vehicle rather than traversing the terminal. And I’ve certainly done it myself several times, such as departing Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal and even transferring off a Bangkok Airways domestic flight to make an international connection on THAI.
Donald Trump, Jr. flying commercial isn’t unusual. He even posted this trip report of Emirates first class. Don, Jr. and Robert Mueller were spotted together at the infamous (and since-retired) Washington National airport gate 35X.
@donaldjtrumpjr Not bad…
In fact, Trump family members flying in all coach cabins isn’t that out of sample. Ivanka Trump’s family was accosted flying JetBlue during the President’s first term. Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner took a shuttle flight from D.C. to New York in 2018 after a helicopter they were on suffered engine failure. Live and Let’s Fly flew United with Don, Jr. and then-fiance’ Kimberly Guilfoyle, whom the administration shipped out of the country to serve as Ambassador to Greece.
Ivanka Trump photographed on JetBlue below. How do I add #MattLasner to my Christmas Card list? pic.twitter.com/wSd90G6Cui
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) December 22, 2016
After small donors paid for repairs on President Trump’s personal 25-year old Boeing 757 which was acquired used from Paul Allen, it returned to the skies in 2022. And that’s not his only plane.
Here’s the problem, and Don, Jr. has never been known as the smart one. Flying Southwest Airlines out of Phoenix, odds on the wifi onboard was barely usable. So while getting VIP escorts through the airport may be efficient for his time, he was going to be far less productive inflight than if he’d flown the city’s other hub carrier.
Not everyone wants to be productive on a plane.
He is eligible under Secret Service guidelines. Just like Biden’s family, Obama’s, etc. I fail to see any newsworthiness.
@Gary – “Here’s the problem, and Don, Jr. has never been known as the smart one.” Why the snide / nasty remark? It is Christmas time and you are usually very civil. I would expect the remark from 1990.
I’d fly private but that’s me. Always.
Agree with Michael above. That was a BS comment he made about Trump. Trump’s can do no right. Now if he was spotted boarding a Gulfstream the people would dump on him. Here he is flying with regular people. Good on him. As far as productivity I’ve seen both sides. The worst was Sen Ed Kennedy from BOS-MIA. Flight was delayed because they had to drag him out of the Club at the airport. Once on board several stiff drinks and then sleeping all the way to MIA. Trump would run circles around him too if he was still alive
@ Gary — Trash with little baggies in the white house.
@MichaelMainello,
Stop being so soft.
And Gary, it is well known that Eric is dumb as a box of rocks. Jr’s claim to fame is his love for booger sugar.
@Michael Mainello – this isn’t a political point. Jared Kushner is sharp. Eric Trump sharper than Don. What I wrote was a shorthand, and not a jab at either side politically.
Don, Jr. avoided prosecutions because no one could demonstrate criminal intent – he’s operationally unserious, a figurehead who parrots what lawyers, accountants, or his father tell him without understanding the legal significance.
In the Trump Organization tax fraud case in Manhattan, Allen Weisselberg was charged and convicted. Don Jr. was not. Weisselberg handled compensation structures, off-the-books perks, and tax reporting. Don Jr. signed documents but relied entirely on professionals. He didn’t know what he was signing. He’s not the guy who understood what was happening.
He avoided prosecution in the Trump Foundation self-dealing case, though he sat on the board. Illegal coordination with the campaign, but no one could demonstrate intent because *he didn’t understand what was at stake*.
He avoided prosecution for the Trump Tower Russia meeting. DOJ needed proof he was aware he was breaking the law, and his actual defense was he was a political neophyte.
He’s actually argued he cannot understand the consquences of decisions he’s involved in and steps he’s directed to take – not sufficiently up to the task to form criminal intent. Subordinates got charged instead because they knew what they were doing.
@toomanybooks – the newsworthiness is flying Southwest!
Maybe Gary should have said the elevator does not reach the top floor? Would have been nicer. And he is not the BRIGHTEST bulb!!!! Get over it people.
Gary’s swipe was more against WN than Don Jr.
and the reason why he chose WN over presumably AA which also has a hub there could have been because
1. WN offered to facilitate logistics including allow him to board early and allow Secret Service to take the aisle to shield him.
2. AA could have been flying an RJ
3. He didn’t want to put up w/ AA FAs.
4. WN could have been cheaper including potentially having the government contract.
without knowing the destination, it is quite easy to see that WN could have been the better choice to the great consternation of AA’s AUS marketing “genius”
“without knowing the destination, it is quite easy to see that WN could have been the better choice to the great consternation of AA’s AUS marketing “genius”. “
Is this supposed to be an AA dig? Work on your insults, tim. This was pretty pathetic
Also. It’s Christmas Eve. Find better uses for your time. Or find family. Maybe friends if you have any left?
@Gene – Hunter is the baggie of white powder at the white house.
@Gary – I like Jared and agree with you; however, I still believe the Don Jr. comment was cheap. As far as the persecution of the Trump Organization, I also believe 99% of corporate America would not survive the same scrutiny.
@Todd – blah, blah. Show us your Mensa card.
You have to feel for Donny junior. Could you imagine sharing a name with a narcissistic idiot, while being even dumber that his father? (For the record, I think DJT may have a slightly higher than average IQ. His effective intelligence is low.)
Pretty funny the family that ran on helping the working man is treated like royalty and the working man has been completely hosed.
Rich are doing well though, and the Trump family has made over 20 billion dollars, so a I guess we just have to wait longer for the trickle down.
How does an internet blog fly? Live and Let Fly did not get on a plane and fly… the clown that writes the blog did.
@This comes to mind says: And your accomplishments are what, Einstein?
Well at least he found a way to use that new $500 credit with the CSR for spending $75K in a year…
@Michael Mainello — And your accomplishments are what, Epstein? FTFY.
I admit to being shocked that Don Jr took a commercial flight. The entire family seems obsessed that taxpayers owe them a luxury lifestyle. In 2016 Don’s father repeatedly stated, “I’m very rich and won’t take a Presidential salary.” By 2020 he took all $400,000 and continues in this ill-fated term to collect a salary.
@Michael Mainello I prefer anonymity, so I will not share detail. Plus, how would I prove I was not lying? But, I’ll put my career accomplishments up against DJTJr anytime. I know my IQ, and I’ll bet it easily beats DJT or DJTJr. But here’s the question: why is that relevant? Can someone who has never played college or pro football argue that a QB is overrated? Yep, so even if I’m a mouth-breathing idiot, I still get to comment on DJT or DJTJr.
Max,
your hypocrisy is beyond stunning, topped only by your inability to see how hypocritical you really are.
you posted 36 minutes after I did but I have no life and don’t celebrate Christmas.
WN and DL both managed to dethrone AA at AUS, WN did it at BNA, DL did it at BOS, JFK and LAX – but you can’t see that there might be many valid reasons why someone might choose WN over other carriers, including AA at PHX?
there are plenty of government and quasi-government employees (I have no idea who actually paid for Donnie Jr’s trip but I would strongly bet it was split between and the rest of American taxpayers.
I am happy he chose to not just fly commercial but fly WN if that was the lowest cost option
even on holidays, the internet still works and people manage to find time to do the things they do throughout the year.
Merry Christmas to those that celebrate. To those that don’t and are working extra on this holiday so others can celebrate, thank you For those that would like to be off, thank you for your sacrifice.
@1990 – “Michael Mainello — And your accomplishments are what, Epstein” Epstein was a Democrat perv. Also, I am not the one calling out ones intellect.
@ This comes to mind says: “..even if I’m a mouth-breathing idiot” Your response has answered that question.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
@The Perspective
You are factually wrong. Every penny of the salary received by President Trump is donated to charity. It is well documented and sourced. Do your homework instead of taking cheap shots.
An absolutely stupid and nonsensical article. Stick to airline related items and not political bashing and your personal vendetta!.
Snide comments about other people’s character traits are never OK, regardless of what day it is, and regardless of whether or not they are true. I highly doubt the statement about Donald Jr is true. I am sure there must have been a very good reason for him to fly Southwest on this trip.
Sad people photographing and posting videos on social media. Look at me and what I have seen! People are desperate for attention…. Frack social media.