President Trump endorses a bailout and then says “I think we just buy” Spirit Airlines. He has someone he thinks is smart that can run it.
.@POTUS on Spirit Airlines: "I think we just buy it. We'd be getting it virtually debt-free. They have some good aircraft, good assets — and when the price of oil goes down, we'll sell it for a profit. I'd love to be able to save those jobs… I like having a lot of airlines so… pic.twitter.com/4AxH8ftuxE
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 23, 2026
Betting markets ticked up slightly from 60% to 64% likelihood that the U.S. takes a stake in Spirit Airlines since the President made these comments.
It concerns me that the President plans to involve himself in who runs Spirit.
We have somebody that wants to run it, do a good job, smart person.
I’m at least happy to hear him talk up selling the airline quickly, albeit contingent on the price of oil falling. How do we model that?
Many industry observers expect oil prices to remain elevated even if the conflict in Iran ends, due to elevated risk and uncertainty. Iran has certainly shown that it’s low cost to create geopolitical chaos even after their leadership and military are devastated.
I keep refreshing those betting market odds.
Does he not know that they don’t fly executive jets, much less 75s, BBJs or 74s?? He is clueless on this topic.
It just can’t get any stupider.
I would chuckle but I wish to at least be a little sensitive to the NK people.
All of this must be tough knowing what a perilous situation their company is in. Been there done that though. There is light.
Oh, Doug, but it somehow will.
If Spirit has viable assets, they should attract DIP financing, a private buyer, or asset sales; if not, aircraft, slots, gates, crews, and routes can be redeployed without converting the DOT or Treasury into an airline holding company. The most dangerous precedent here is not “saving low fares,” it is letting political actors decide which distressed competitors get rescued, who runs them, and when taxpayers exit.
Seems reasonable, lol.
I’m all for it, so long as he and everyone else in his administration exclusively flies Spirit from now on.
Still a waste of taxpayer’s money. But if it’s worth buying with taxpayer money we don’t have, they should at least fly with them!
@Mike Hunt — Citi is one of the major secured creditors; so, who is this bailing out, really?
@Ryan gets it. All-in! Bahaha.