Trump on United and American airlines: I don't like having them merge

Published: 2026-04-21 09:38:37 ET AAL

Published on 04/21/2026 at 09:38 am EDT

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said in a CNBC interview on Tuesday that while he does not mind airline mergers, he does not like a merger between United Airlines  and American Airlines.

"I don't mind mergers," Trump said, adding he would "love somebody to buy" Spirit Airlines. Spirit is currently in bankruptcy.

"But with American it's doing fine, and United is doing very well. I know the United people, they're doing very well. I don't like having them merge," he said.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby had pitched the potential for merging with American Airlines in a meeting with Trump in late February, sources said last week. American said on Friday it is not interested in a merger with United.

(Reporting by Bo Erickson; editing by Michelle Nichols)