JetBlue Faces Backlash Over Pro-Trump In-Flight Announcement

Passengers outraged after airline employee thanked Trump administration during Presidents' Day flight

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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A JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Palm Beach, Florida on Monday sparked outrage after a flight attendant made an announcement thanking President Donald Trump and his administration during the Presidents' Day flight. Passengers took to social media to criticize the airline, with some saying they would not fly JetBlue again due to the political statement.

Why it matters

Airlines typically avoid making overt political statements, as it can alienate customers and create a divisive atmosphere on flights. This incident highlights the challenges companies face in navigating politically charged environments, where any perceived alignment with one side can lead to backlash from the other.

The details

According to reports, the announcement was made by the lead flight attendant on JetBlue Flight 2010, who thanked President Trump and his cabinet as part of a Presidents' Day message. Passengers were shocked by the political statement, with some saying they would no longer fly with the airline. JetBlue has not yet commented publicly on the incident.

  • The incident occurred on Monday, February 17, 2026 during a flight from Los Angeles to Palm Beach, Florida.

The players

James Weir

A passenger on JetBlue Flight 2010 who posted about the incident on social media.

Karen Myatt

An attorney and JetBlue customer who threatened to stop flying with the airline over the incident.

JetBlue

The airline whose employee made the pro-Trump announcement during the flight.

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What they’re saying

“The fact that the pilot or flight attendant chose to begin the flight by specifically thanking President Trump and his cabinet for all that they do means this will be the last time I choose your airline.”

— James Weir, Passenger (Threads)

“I'm Mosaic with 350k miles logged in the past 3 years. I fly into the Palm Beach airport regularly. If I had been on this flight, and we were still on the ground, I would've asked to get off. The flight attendant making this announcement is not safe for me to be around. Your manuals prohibit political speech from staff while on duty. I want to hear that this person's employment was terminated. You owe every passenger on that flight an apology.”

— Karen Myatt, Attorney and JetBlue Customer (Threads)

“forcing political views on paying customers isn't a good look. I'm going on vacation to escape the f---ery going on in this country. I don't want it shoved down my throat on a flight.”

— kmr71170, JetBlue Customer (Threads)

What’s next

JetBlue has not yet commented publicly on the incident, but the airline may face further backlash and calls for disciplinary action against the employee who made the pro-Trump announcement.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the delicate balance airlines must strike between respecting diverse political views of passengers and avoiding the appearance of taking partisan stances. JetBlue's handling of this situation could set an important precedent for how the industry responds to similar challenges in the future.