Trump Abandons Helicopter on His Way to Florida Golf Club After Flat Tire

What was supposed to be a routine touchdown in Miami turned into an awkward tarmac shuffle for Donald Trump on Tuesday — and the optics weren’t great.

The former president, who arrived at Miami International Airport to attend a Saudi-funded LIV Golf event at his Doral resort, was forced to abandon his Marine One helicopter after it suffered what officials are calling a “flat tire.” The bizarre delay left Trump switching aircrafts on the runway — all while cameras rolled.

President Trump just switched helicopters at Miami International Airport after it appears there was a flat tire on Marine One. pic.twitter.com/y3hAMvBJdZ

— Caleb Parke (@calebparke) April 3, 2025

Wearing his signature red MAGA hat and a stiff expression, Trump raised a clenched fist to the press at 4:55 p.m., then boarded the first helicopter. But the aircraft never left the ground. According to reporters on the scene, the chopper remained parked, its rear tire visibly deflated.

A second Marine One was summoned minutes later. Trump reboarded and finally made it to Doral by 5:35 p.m. — nearly 40 minutes after his scheduled departure.

While the incident may seem minor, it comes as Trump attempts to project strength amid growing legal pressure and mounting criticism over his cozy ties to foreign interests — including Saudi Arabia, whose sovereign wealth fund bankrolls the controversial LIV Golf tour.

“Trump is literally flying from a broken-down helicopter to a tournament paid for by the Saudis,” said political analyst David Rothschild. “That’s not just a metaphor. That’s a reality show presidency on reruns.”

Critics were quick to seize on the symbolism.

“Even his ride is deflating,” tweeted one user. Another posted: “Trump switching helicopters like he’s switching stories under oath.”

The LIV Golf event — a rival to the PGA Tour that’s lured players with massive payouts — has faced backlash since its inception for whitewashing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Trump, never shy about profit, has hosted several LIV events at his properties, calling them “the future of golf.”

“He’s not doing this for the game,” said Sarah Longwell, a longtime conservative strategist and Trump critic. “He’s doing it for the money — and to stay relevant in a media cycle that’s leaving him behind.”

Trump is expected to give a closed-door speech during a dinner for tournament attendees, but no remarks have been confirmed as of press time.

Whether the helicopter mishap was a minor mechanical issue or an eerie metaphor for a faltering campaign, one thing is clear: even Trump’s theatrics aren’t running as smoothly as they used to.