President Donald Trump stated that his administration is still evaluating a potential taxpayer-funded rescue for Spirit Airlines, which is facing bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years. The airline has reported losses exceeding $2.5 billion since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and filed for Chapter 11 protection again in August 2025, with debts amounting to $8.1 billion. Trump emphasized that any deal would need to be beneficial for the government, framing the potential bailout as a way to preserve jobs and competition in the airline industry. However, the idea has faced criticism from lawmakers across both political parties regarding the use of taxpayer funds. Spirit's operational capacity has drastically declined, with a 51.6% reduction in scheduled flights compared to the previous year, and the airline is under pressure due to rising jet fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions. A spokesperson for Spirit stated that the airline continues to operate normally while discussions with the government are ongoing.