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Donald Trump can’t seem to escape Jeffrey Epstein.
The criminally convicted ex-president appeared to fly on the disgraced financier’s plane over the weekend, with one company that specializes aviation reporting confirming the plane in question was previously owned by Epstein. The jet, a Gulfstream G550, landed at a small airport in Aspen, Colorado.
A Reddit sleuth (who else?) first made the observation, which was amplified on social media through an account called “Harris | Walz War Room.”
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Is anyone going to ask Donald why he was flying on Jeffrey Epstein's plane on Saturday? 🧵 pic.twitter.com/xRPQyWIHWp
— Harris | Walz War Room (Text JOIN to 30330) (@HarrisWarRoom) August 12, 2024
The Reddit user, “u/shiruken,” says an aviation company bought the plane from an LLC tied to Epstein in February 2021. Epstein died in August 2019 at the Metropolitan Correction Center following his arrest the previous month on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. (Officials say Epstein committed suicide in his cell, with a 2023 Department of Justice report outlining an array of security issues and staff failures at the facility.)
The Redditer outlines the plane’s apparent Epstein-affiliated history in their now-viral post. ““This aircraft’s old designation was N212JE (note the matching serial number) and was previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein (note the last two letters of the tail number),” they wrote. “The registration history shows it was owned by Epstein’s Plan D, LLC in the U.S. Virgin Islands before being transferred to N550GP, LLC in February 2021. The tail number was subsequently changed to N550GP in July 2021.”
The plane’s travel history matches up with Trump’s recent campaign stops. According to Flight Aware, the plane landed Friday in Bozeman, Montana, which is where Trump’s personal plane was grounded due to reported mechanical issues. Then the plane flew to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Aspen, where Trump held two fundraisers.
The Aspen Daily News confirms that Trump arrived on the aforementioned Gulfstream G-550 jet. On Sunday night, The Air Current, an outlet that covers aviation, reported its own confirmation as well.
.@theaircurrent can confirm reports that the @GulfstreamAero G550 that former President Trump has been using to travel for campaign events was formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein. The aircraft is now owned and operated by Threshold Aviation Group.
— Will Guisbond (@willguisbond) August 11, 2024
Epstein flew with numerous high-profile figures on his plane, nicknamed the “Lolita Express.” One of his victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, says she was sexually assaulted on board. Her alleged abusers include British Royal family member Prince Andrew and the lawyer Alan Dershowitz, both of whose names appeared on flight logs from Epstein’s plane.
Though Trump denies he ever flew on the “Lolita Express,” flight logs released in 2021 indicate he was a passenger on several occasions.
Trump carried on a long relationship with Epstein, with one of Epstein’s accusers claiming she met the 78-year-old on a trip to Mar-a-Lago when she was 14 years old. At one point, Trump was fond of his friendship with Epstein, boasting about his social life in a 2002 interview with New York Magazine (before public allegations of wrongdoing against Epstein came to light).
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump said. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Following Epstein’s arrest in 2019, NBC News resurfaced archived footage of Trump socializing with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago in 1992. (Trump and Epstein were also photographed together at his tacky Palm Beach resort in 2000.)
Morning Joe dug up footage of Trump partying with Jeffrey Epstein at Mar-a-Lago in 1992 pic.twitter.com/3T4l2enrqc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 17, 2019
Trump distanced himself from Epstein in 2019, saying they had a “falling out.” But the two Palm Beach transplants seemed to socialize in the same circles.
Trump’s first Labor Secretary, Alex Acosta, was the U.S. attorney who oversaw a sweetheart plea agreement with Epstein in 2007, which provided him with immunity from federal prosecution and lenient work release privileges that allowed him to spend 16 hours per day at his office. (Epstein only served 13 months of his 18-month prison sentence.)
When Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator, was arrested in 2020, Trump wished her well. “I haven’t really been following it too much. I just wish her well, frankly,” he said.
“I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach. But I wish her well, whatever it is,” he added.
Last week, a Maryland-based auction house announced it’s accepting bids for Epstein’s infamous “black book,” a document that contains phone numbers and contact info for nearly 400 power players, including–surprise!–Trump.
Since Epstein’s former jet was an emergency replacement, it’s unclear whether Trump or members of his team were aware of the plane’s sordid history. Still… what a coincidence!
Indeed, the truth is oftentimes stranger than fiction, as many on social media pointed out.
Trump flying around in Jeffrey Epstein's old plane is the kind of detail an editor would cut for breaking suspension of disbelief. pic.twitter.com/l9J7GGVL7U
— Patrick S. Tomlinson (@stealthygeek) August 12, 2024
If you had suggested "and then Trump purchases the Epstein plane and starts campaigning for the presidency in it" in any writer's room you would've been shot down immediately https://t.co/a46g2DtW1S
— Look at the parking lot, Larry! (@refocusedmedia) August 12, 2024
I never pegged Donald Trump as the sentimental type. https://t.co/skwtsvU5sM
— Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) August 12, 2024
abfab
Only the best people.
crannysauces24
Been busy canvassing for candidates who support my lived-in experiences. What’s that? The same people trotting out Eps are propping up Bill Clinton in weeks? Color me shocked.
Woody
I’m glad Queerty, and the press in general, are all asking the really big questions.
Commie Kammie has been the Democratic nominee for 23 days and has failed to answer any questions, do any interviews or have any unscripted moments away from her teleprompter. Her website has no legislative proposals for her campaign and/or presidency. She did steal Trump’s ‘No Tax on Tips’ proposal. Ironic, considering she was the tie-breaking vote for the Biden/Harris administration to go after working class people and their tips. You can’t make this stuff up. Classic.
Where was Tampon Tim (aka Timpon) this weekend? JD Vance spoke with three Sunday morning networks. You would think Timmy would have the guts to address his Stolen Valor accusations. Apparently not.
Woody
Trump has proposed and agreed to three presidential debate dates – September 4th, September 10th, September 17th.
The presidential candidates usually have three debates and the vice-presidential candidates have one.
Why has Kamala and her campaign only agreed to one? What is the hold up?
Eternal.Cowboy
Harris/Walz going up in the polls while DJT/JV sink sure has your kickers in a twist.
Kangol2
Slurrmpf couldn’t help but get on the Lolita Express (with a new paint-job). Epstein was his good buddy.
In his own words: “I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy…He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
abfab
We it another one of Woody’s nerves….Jeff Epstein and his illigal escapades. Calm down Baron.
abfab
rump’s campaign unveiled an opportunity for supporters to win a future ride on Air Force Two with JD Vance who the campaign hopes will be in the White House after this year’s presidential election.
abfab
After a gitchy start, hours of lies and derangement and
problems in the livestream renewed questions about X’s ability to handle big events, Both men are tired.
CNY1983
no matter how you toss the dice DON OLD-RUMP inches closer to a jail cell.
Woody
In an election year, it is always convenient to jail your political rival. Don’t they do that in Russia?
Tell me again how you and other Democrats love democracy so much. That one is always one of my favorites.
abfab
Yes. They do that in Russia.
Invader7
Compared to the GOP who IS restricting rights.