On Friday, former President Trump’s plane, known as “Trump Force One,” was forced to land unexpectedly due to a mechanical issue while on its way to a campaign rally in Montana.
The aircraft, initially headed for Bozeman, Montana, safely landed at Billings Logan International Airport instead, as confirmed by airport personnel to The Associated Press.
Jenny Mockel, an administrative assistant at the Billings airport, noted that Trump would complete his journey to Bozeman—a little over two hours away—by switching to a private jet.
Trump’s rally in Montana is set for Friday evening and is largely seen as a strategic move to challenge Senator Jon Tester, the last statewide elected Democrat in Montana. Current polling shows Tester in a tight race with GOP businessman Tim Sheehy, who has garnered support from the Republican presidential nominee.
A recent survey from Emerson College Polling/The Hill indicates that Sheehy holds a narrow 2-point lead over Tester, with 48 percent compared to Tester’s 46 percent, while 5 percent of voters remain undecided.
In a social media video posted by Trump aide Margo Martin, Trump commented after landing, “I’ve just arrived in the beautiful state of Montana.” This rally marks Trump’s sole campaign event for the week. However, Vice President Harris has been more active, with five rallies scheduled, generating remarkable momentum and fundraising.
Harris’s campaign reported 14,000 people attended her Philadelphia rally on Tuesday and 15,000 at her Detroit event on Wednesday. Despite Trump holding a 15-point lead over Harris according to the Emerson/The Hill poll, Harris has seen an increase in support to 40 percent, an outstanding rise from the 35 percent President Biden received in March.