US President Donald Trump has suggested on a live call with CNBC that the federal government could help Spirit Airlines as questions linger over the low-cost-carrier’s future.
On April 21, 2026, President Trump appeared on Squawk Box where he was asked about rumors of a possible merger between United Airlines and American Airlines.
While President Trump said he didn’t like the idea of a merger between United and American, he quickly moved his attention to Spirit Airlines.
“I think I’d love somebody to buy Spirit, as an example. You know, Spirit’s in trouble and I’d love someone to buy Spirit. It’s 14,000 jobs and maybe the federal government should help that one out. You know, tell my people,” said President Trump.
Spirit is among a group of low-cost airlines in the US that is seeking temporary federal tax relief in response to higher jet fuel prices spurred on by the war in Iran.
Trump: "I'd love somebody to buy Spirit Airlines. Maybe the federal government should help that one out. I told my people." pic.twitter.com/YS1GAMPeQ3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 21, 2026
The group of carriers, through the Association of Value Airlines, have asked Congress to temporarily suspend the 7.5% federal excise tax on airline tickets and the $5.30 domestic segment tax.
Reports have also recently surfaced that Spirit’s hopes of exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy have been blunted with the possibility of an imminent liquidation.
On April 15, 2026, Bloomberg reported that a potential liquidation could rear its head as early as the end of last week.
Following President Trump’s CNBC call the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke with Reuters about the possibility of the federal government supporting Spirit.
“What we don’t want to do is put good money after bad, and there’s been a lot of money thrown at Spirit, and they haven’t found their way into profitability. And so would we just forestall the inevitable and then own that? Or does Spirit have some pathway to make it and I don’t know the answer to that,” said Secretary Duffy.
He also questioned why the federal government would want to buy Spirit “when no one else wants to”.