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Trump considers a taxpayer takeover of Spirit Airlines and would aim to resell carrier

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines with the intent of reselling the struggling budget carrier after oil prices drop.

The president confirmed his continued interest in offering Spirit a financial lifeline after a lawyer told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court that the airline was in advanced talks with the U.S. government on a financing deal that would allow Spirit to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.

“They have some good aircraft and good assets, and when the prices of oil goes down, we’ll sell it for a profit,” Trump said, speaking at an unrelated Oval Office event. “I’d love to be able to save those jobs. I’d love to be able to save an airline.”

Trump stoked speculation of a deal to save Spirit on Tuesday when he encouraged a buyer to rescue the airline and suggested the federal government could help keep it afloat.

The White House has attempted to blame Spirit’s predicament on the Biden administration, which in 2023 sued to stop JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit for $3.8 billion. A little more than a year before Trump replaced Joe Biden as president, a federal judge in Dallas blocked a proposed Spirit-JetBlue merger, saying it would drive up airfares for passengers.

Trump said he had “a smart person” in mind who could potentially run Spirit and that he believed the airline could get back on solid financial footing.

“And they have some very good slots too, which are pretty valuable,” the president added, referring to scheduled times allocated for airlines to take off or land at airports when demand exceeds available capacity.

Spirit has struggled with losses for years. The airline filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024 and again in August 2025. With the Iran war driving up jet fuel costs for all airlines, creditors earlier this month expressed doubts about Spirit’s ongoing viability, raising the possibility the airline recognized for its bright yellow planes would be forced to sell its assets and cease operating.

Before Trump’s comments about the government buying the airline outright, Marshall Huebner, a lawyer with Davis Polk who is representing Spirit, said during a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing in New York that government financing would make a reorganization possible and help Spirit be more competitive.

Details of a potential deal were shared with all three of the company’s primary creditor groups, Huebner said.

It was not immediately clear how a federal acquisition would differ from the terms that were under discussion. The size and terms of the financing aid were not shared publicly. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, both reported an amount of $500 million that would give the government an option to acquire a sizable stake in the airline, which has its headquarters in Florida.

Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy voiced skepticism about the government stepping in to keep Spirit alive. In a CBS interview that aired Tuesday night, Duffy questioned whether a deal would set a broader precedent.

“Then who else comes to my door?” he said, referring to other airlines potentially requesting government aid. “The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that inevitably is going to be liquidated?”

Several lawmakers, both Republican and Democrats, also balked at the idea of a bailout. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X on Wednesday that a deal for Spirit would be a “terrible idea.”

“If Spirit’s creditors or other potential investors don’t think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either,” Tom Cotton, a senator from Arkansas, posted on X. “Not the best use of taxpayer dollars.”

The union that represents the airline’s pilots, on the other hand, voiced “strong support” for a rescue deal.

“Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation,” said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council. “When Spirit enters a market, fares go down.”

Spirit’s relatively young fleet has made it an attractive acquisition target. But previous buyout attempts from budget rivals like JetBlue and Frontier were unsuccessful both before and during Spirit’s first bankruptcy.

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Madhani reported from Washington. AP writers Josh Boak in Washington and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

When you have advanced prostate cancer: What living with the disease looks like

By WTOP Staff
(CNN) — “How long do I have to live ?”When I tell a patient he has prostate cancer, this is usually what he asks me first.With early-stage or low-grade prostate cancer, I can offer strong reassurance: Your life expectancy is good — expect a five-year relative survival rate of greater than 99% with treatment. Simply put, most men will not die from low-grade prostate cancer.However, once the cancer has spread outside the prostate to the bones and other organs the answer becomes more difficult. Treatment has changed dramatically over the past decade for advanced prostate cancer. New drugs, better imaging and the earlier use of combined therapies are helping men live longer.In a video released July 15, former President Joe Biden gave an update on his prostate cancer, saying he was receiving treatments that have been going well. In May 2025, Biden officially announced that he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. Since then, based on official updates, he has continued hormone therapy, completed a course of radiation and maintained a public presence.His diagnosis brought renewed attention to prostate cancer screening and treatment. Now, more than a year later, his cancer journey offers an opportunity to examine what has changed in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer — and the hope these offer men living with the disease.I recently saw a patient who was diagnosed three years ago with cancer that had already spread to multiple areas in his bones. Since then, he has taken cruises, traveled with his family and spent weekends babysitting his grandchildren.He gets tired and cannot garden the way he once did. But he is still alive and considers every day a blessing. His experience, and what we see with Biden, shows what living with metastatic prostate cancer can look like today.Understanding survival ratesIf they haven’t asked their doctor already, many patients go online and find five-year survival rates, but every number they may find online comes with a huge asterisk.The American Cancer Society reports five-year relative survival of greater than 99% when prostate cancer is found in or near the prostate. The figure drops to 38% when it has reached distant parts of the body.But that number is based on large groups of men treated years ago. It does not fully reflect the impact of newer treatments — or account for an individual man’s age, overall health and response to therapy.Survival statistics describe groups of patients but do not predict what will happen to one person. That is why the 38% figure cannot tell us how long Biden — or any individual patient — will live. These patients’ outlook depends on details of their cancer and how they are responding to treatments.It’s treated more aggressively nowA man diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer a decade ago and a man diagnosed today would not receive the same treatment. The thinking now is to use our best treatments early instead of holding back.For years, doctors began with hormone therapy — usually injections that lower testosterone — and saved other treatments until the cancer stopped responding.Today, those injections are often combined from the start with a newer hormone-blocking drug and/or chemotherapy. These combinations have helped men live longer and are one of the biggest shifts of the past decade.What Biden’s diagnosis told usThere are three details about Biden’s cancer that help doctors like me understand how aggressive it is and how to manage it effectively. Official statements highlighted that his cancer had a Gleason score of 9. The cancer had spread to his bones, and it was labeled as hormone-sensitive.The Gleason score is assigned after a pathologist examines biopsy samples. Scores typically range from 6 to 10, with higher numbers indicating more aggressive cancer. A score of 9 falls into the most aggressive category. However, the score alone cannot tell us whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate.When prostate cancer spreads, the most common destination is the bones — particularly the spine, pelvis and ribs. It can also reach organs such as the lungs or liver. Once it has reached distant parts of the body, it is generally not curable, but treatment can put a brake on it for years.Prostate cancer can also be hormone-sensitive or hormone-resistant. Because it typically relies on testosterone to grow, lowering the hormone or blocking its effects can help control the cancer. Hormone-sensitive means it still responds to these treatments.Over time, most advanced or metastatic prostate cancers find ways to grow despite low testosterone levels, which mean they are now hormone-resistant. Lowering testosterone alone is no longer enough to control the cancer, so doctors have to turn to additional therapies.Knowing if the cancer has spreadThe most sensitive imaging test available today is a PSMA PET scan. It uses a radioactive tracer that seeks out a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. Areas containing cancer may appear as bright spots, helping identify where the cancer has spread. The American Urological Association supports using this imaging test to determine whether high-risk prostate cancer has spread and to help establish its stage.A traditional bone scan, used for decades, highlights areas where bone is reacting to injury or disease. It remains an alternative imaging option, but PSMA PET is increasingly replacing its use.What areas light up and where matter when deciding on treatments. A single spot in the spine and cancer that has spread to the liver are both called stage 4, but they are not the same disease and may not be treated the same way.Doctors also consider how much cancer has spread. We label it as “low-volume” disease when the cancer has reached a limited number of areas. High volume is when the spread is more widespread or has reached other organs such as the liver or lungs.Both require treatment that works throughout the body. Treatment for metastatic disease generally includes therapy that works throughout the body. For men with low-volume disease, adding radiation to the prostate may also help them live longer.Biden has completed a course of radiation, but his team has not disclosed what area was treated or enough detail to determine whether his cancer would be considered low- or high-volume.Treatment has become more preciseBeyond starting more treatments earlier, doctors can increasingly tailor therapy to the biology of an individual man’s cancer. We can now test both the tumor and a patient’s own DNA for mutations that help guide treatment.Roughly 1 in 10 men with metastatic prostate cancer carries an inherited mutation affecting the body’s ability to repair DNA. The best known are BRCA1 and BRCA2, the same genes linked to some breast and ovarian cancers.Certain mutations found in the tumor or inherited DNA may make targeted drugs called PARP inhibitors an option. If a mutation is inherited, it also gives family members information they can act on through genetic counseling, testing and earlier screening.Another advance is radioligand therapy. If a scan shows that cancer cells carry a protein called PSMA, doctors can attach radiation to a molecule that seeks out that protein. Delivered through an IV, it targets cancer cells throughout the body. This approach was expanded last year to more men whose cancer had become hormone resistant.Living longer can come with costsEvery treatment can cause side effects. With hormone therapy, one of the first is often hot flashes, similar to what women experience during menopause. These are not dangerous, but they can affect a man’s quality of life.Fatigue is also common. Testosterone helps maintain muscle, so lowering it can reduce strength and energy. Regular walking and resistance training can help preserve muscle and reduce fatigue.The side effect almost no one talks about is loss of sex drive or low libido. At diagnosis, most men are thinking about staying alive, not their libido. But months later, it often matters. It is worth discussing with your care team and your partner rather than assuming it is simply the price of treatment.The side effect I worry about most is weaker bones. Low testosterone reduces bone density, while cancer deposits can weaken the bone’s structure. Follow-up care should include exercise, a bone-density scan, and ensuring adequate levels of calcium and vitamin D. For men with hormone-resistant cancer that has spread to bone, bone-protecting drugs can reduce the risk of fractures and other complications.New or worsening back pain, especially with leg weakness, numbness or trouble controlling the bladder or bowels? These could mean the cancer is pressing on the spinal cord. It is a true medical emergency that requires immediate attention.Cancer care requires a team approachIdeally, several doctors work together to coordinate a patient’s care. The urologist is often the starting point. A medical oncologist manages treatments that work throughout the body, while a radiation oncologist targets specific areas, whether that is the prostate itself or a painful bone lesion. The primary care doctor helps protect the patient’s heart and bones and looks after the person’s overall health.A man’s age, other medical conditions, ability to tolerate side effects and goals for treatment all shape treatment plans. Two men with nearly identical test results may be offered — or choose — different paths based on their health and priorities.Good communication among doctors is essential, but gaps can happen. Being your own advocate means knowing who is on your care team, asking questions and understanding your options.I also recommend bringing someone you trust to important visits for support and to take notes and help you remember what was discussed.More treatments, better testing offer hopeFor men worried about prostate cancer, talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks of PSA testing. Black men and those with a strong family history should begin that conversation in their 40s. New urinary symptoms are often not cancer, but they still deserve attention, as does blood in the urine or semen, unexplained weight loss and/or persistent back or bone pain.For men living with advanced prostate cancer, there is reason for hope. There are more treatments and better testing than there were a decade ago, and good care pays attention to how a man feels, not just to what his scans show.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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