Key facts
- Trump used the ground stop to push Congress for money to fully upgrade the US air traffic control system.
- The nationwide ground stop began on Friday afternoon, according to the report.
- Trump had been publicly silent on the stoppage since it began, posting about other topics.
President Donald Trump on November 15, 2026 broke his silence on the nationwide ground stop that snarled airline travel over the weekend, using the incident to press Congress for money to fully upgrade the US air traffic control system.
The Republican president had been conspicuously quiet on the ground stop since it began on Friday afternoon, issuing statements on social media about unrelated topics while frustrated passengers were left stranded at airports and his government scrambled with the disruption, according to the report.
The report does not state what caused the ground stop, how many flights or passengers were affected, or what specific sum Trump is seeking from Congress.