Donald Trump has parted ways with one of his private jets, a transaction occurring against the backdrop of significant legal and financial pressures. The 1997 Cessna, previously a proud feature of Trump’s personal fleet, was sold to MM Fleet Holdings LLC, a company linked to Republican megadonor Mehrdad Moayedi, as per records from the Federal Aviation Administration dated May 13. The Daily Beast first reported the transfer, highlighting that the plane is estimated to be worth around $10 million according to evoJets.
MM Fleet Holdings, based in Texas, is owned by Moayedi, who runs Centurion American Custom Homes and has been a substantial donor to Republican causes, including Trump’s own campaign efforts. His contributions include a combined $245,000 to Trump Victory—a committee that supported Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee, and various state parties—in 2019 and 2020. Moayedi’s financial support extends beyond Trump, reaching other prominent Republicans and even independent Kyrsten Sinema, via The New York Post.
The sale of the jet comes at a crucial time for Trump, who is actively campaigning for a return to the White House while simultaneously managing the financial fallout from numerous legal battles. In January, a New York judge ruled that Trump must pay writer E Jean Carroll $83.3 million for defamation—a sum to which Trump responded by posting a $91.6 million bond in March to appeal the judgment.
His financial difficulties were compounded in February when he was found liable for financial fraud in New York, resulting in a staggering $350 million in penalties. An appeals court later reduced the bond required for his appeal to $175 million, which he managed to secure.
On Trump Aviation’s website, the Cessna was lauded as a “rocket in the sky,” capable of reaching speeds up to Mach .92 and altitudes of 51,000 feet, with luxurious interiors seating nine passengers and adorned with the signature Trump Crest—a symbol of opulence and exclusivity.
Despite Forbes estimating Trump’s net worth at $2.6 billion in September 2023, his available cash and liquid assets total only $426 million, a sum that may prove inadequate in covering his escalating legal expenses. His portfolio includes golf clubs and resorts, major real estate in and outside of New York City, and interests in social media and branding—but these assets are not readily liquid, posing significant challenges to Trump’s financial maneuverability as legal and civil cases continue to accumulate.