Trump lands in Miami, but switches helicopters before trip to Doral due to ‘wheel issue’

MIAMI — President Donald Trump arrived at Miami International Airport on Thursday afternoon, April 3, at 4:45 p.m. aboard Air Force One, but an apparent tire issue with his presidential helicopter forced him to switch choppers.

The president boarded a helicopter, known as Marine One when the president rides in it, for the short ride to his Doral golf club, where he is scheduled to speak Thursday evening. However, just before take-off, a “wheel issue” was discovered. The president was escorted to a second helicopter on the airport tarmac. His helicopter and a second one then took off for Doral just before 5:30 p.m.

The wheel issue appeared to be the back tire of the helicopter, which appeared flat. The three presidential helicopters had arrived at the airport about a half hour before Air Force One.

Trump is scheduled to travel to Mar-a-Lago on Thursday evening, arriving by about 10 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, Trump is expected to travel to his Jupiter golf course for the first time in his second presidency. While the White House hasn’t said why Trump will travel to his Jupiter course, the club’s senior championship, in which Trump has been known to compete, runs Friday through Sunday.

Also, Trump National in Jupiter on Saturday night will host the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association’s 17th annual Police Officer’s Ball, according to an invitation for that event.

Trump is expected to spend part of Saturday and Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, according to a notice of temporary flight restrictions issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

According to restrictions from the FAA, Trump likely will leave Palm Beach for Washington about 9 p.m. Sunday.

This would be Trump’s eighth weekend in Palm Beach County since his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Palm Beach Daily News reporter Kristina Webb contributed to this report.